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LIBRARY  OF 

HENRY  M.  DUNLAP 
SAVOY,  ILLINOIS 

IF  BORROWED  PLEASE  RETURN  PROMPTLY 


REPORT 


OF   THE 


ILLINOIS  HORTICULTURAL  BOARD 
OF  CONTROL 


HAVING    IN   CHARGE   THE 


Fruit  Exhibit  of  the  State 


IN   THE 


NATIONAL  HORTICULTURAL  BUILDING 


AT   THE 


WORLD'S  COLUMBIAN  EXPOSITION 


CHICAGO,  ILL.,  U.  S.  A.,  1893 


EDITED  BY  THE  SECRETARY,  HENRY  M.  DUNLAP, 
SAVOY,  ILL. 


PRESS   AND   BINDERY   OP 

PANTAGRAPH  PRINTING  AND  STATIONERY  Co., 

BLOOMINGTON,   ILL. 


ILLINOIS 

Horticultural  Board  of  Control 


IN   CHARGE   OF   THE 


FRUIT  EXHIBIT  OP  THE  STATE  OP  ILLINOIS 


President,  HENRY  AUGUSTINE,  Normal 

Secretary,  HENRY  M.  DUNLAP,  Savoy 


MEMBERS 

HENRY  AUGUSTINE,  NORMAL 

President  State  Horticultural  Society 

*A.  C.  HAMMOND,  WARSAW 

Secretary  State  Horticultural  Society 

O.  W.  BARNARD,  MANTENO 

President  Northern  Horticultural  Society 

ARTHUR  BRYANT,  PRINCETON 

Vice-President  Northern  Horticultural  Society 

JAS.  T.  JOHNSON,  WARSAW 

President  Central  Horticultural  Society 

H.  M.  DUNLAP,  SAVOY 

Vice-President  Central  Horticultural  Society 

DANIEL  BERRY,   CARMI 

President  Southern  Horticultural  Society 

T.  E.  GOODRICH,  COBDEN 

Vice-President  Southern  Horticultural  Society 
*Deceased. 


FRUIT  EXHIBIT. 


I  HE  exhibit  of  Illinois  fruits  at  the  World's  Columbian  Ex- 
^  position  in  Horticultural  Hall  was  made  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  members  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  State  Hor- 
ticultural Society,  the  expense  being  paid  from  an  appropriation 
made  by  the  Legislature,  which  became  available  on  the  first 
day  of  May,  1893. 

Previous  to  that  date  the  State  Horticultural  Society  had 
decided  to  make  an  exhibit  of  fruits,  if  possible  to  secure 
funds;  and  to  that  end  had,  during  the  previous  fall,  gathered 
from  all  sections  of  the  State,  about  a  hundred  barrels  of  the 
leading  varieties  of  apples,  placing  them  in  cold  storage,  with 
which  to  make  a  beginning. 

On  the  first  of  May  the  Illinois  tables  were  covered  with  a 
very  creditable  display  of  apples,  consisting  of  800  plates, 
which  was  renewed  from  time  to  time  as  required,  and  extended 
as  the  crop  of  1893  developed  and  ripened. 

Although  the  bloom  on  Illinois  orchards  gave  promise  of 
an  abundant  yield  during  April  and  May  of  1893,  a  few  weeks 
sufficed  to  show  that  the  crop  of  apples  was  to  be  almost  a 
complete  failure  throughout  the  State,  and  though  here  and 
there  a  few  exceptions  may  exist,  the  failure  was  the  most  dis- 
astrous ever  known.  Cherries  and  plums,  to  a  large  extent, 
met  the  same  fate,  but  a  moderate  crop  of  peaches,  a  few  pears, 
and  a  fair  yield  of  grapes  remained  to  cheer  the  grower. 

During  the  season  of  small  fruits  the  tables  bore  ample 
evidences  of  the  superiority  of  Illinois  sc*il  for  their  production, 
and  there  was  also  a  creditable  showing  of  cherries  and  plums. 

The  king  of  fruit,  however,  is  the  apple,  and  in  spite  of 
the  general  failure  in  Illinois  no  other  state  was  able  to  excel, 
or  even  equal,  the  exhibit  which  the  Illinois  tables  daily  pre- 
sented to  the  visitor  during  the  first  four  months  of  the  Fair. 
Shipments  were  received  every  day  fresh  from  the  orchards 
and  vineyards  to  make  good  the  loss  by  decay. 

We  believe  that  every  citizen  of  the  State  feels  a  pride  in 


8 


the  success  which  characterized  this  exhibit,  and  we  can  confi- 
dently assert  that  no  efforts  were  spared  to  keep  it  up  to  the 
proper  standard,  so  far  as  the  almost  total  failure  of  the  fruit 
crop  permitted. 

The  pictures  of  the  exhibit,  taken  at  intervals  and  repro- 
duced in  this  report,  give  a  very  correct  idea  of  the  appear- 
ance of  the  tables  of  the  exhibit  as  they  were  during  the 
progress  of  the  Exposition. 

In  the  following  pages  is  given,  briefly,  a  statement  of 
some  advantages  which  the  State  of  Illinois  is  possessed  of  in 
the  line  of  horticulture.  During  the  progress  of  the  Exposi- 
tion a  pamphlet,  of  which  this  is  part,  was  issued,  and  60,000 
copies  were  distributed  to  the  people  of  the  States  and  Foreign 
Countries. 


A  BRIEF   SUMMARY 


OF 


THE  ADVANTAGES  or  ILLINOIS 

AS    A    FRfcllT   GR0WIN6    STATE. 


I  HE  Executive  Board  of  the  Illinois  State  Horticultural 
V  Society,  which  had  in  charge  the  care  and  direction  of 
the  Illinois  exhibit  of  fruit  at  the  World's  Columbian  Expo- 
sition in  Chicago,  having  a  natural  pride  in  the  fertile  soil,  the 
congenial  climate,  and  the  great  variety  of  the  horticultural 
and  vegetable  productions  of  the  State,  and  from  actual  per- 
sonal knowledge  of  the  capacity  and  capability  of  a  further 
development  to  an  unlimited  extent,  offer  the  following  state- 
ments to  the  inquirer,  not  as  an  encyclopedia  that  contains  all 
that  is  known  about  fruit  culture,  or  as  an  advertisement  to 
boom  the  cheap  lands  of  some  particular  locality,  but  to  give 
information  in  general  about  the  fruit-growing  ability  of  the 
State,  its  markets  and  advantages  to  anyone  seeking  a  home 
within  its  borders. 

The  three  attributes  of  success  in  fruit  growing  from  a 
practical  standpoint  are  (a)  good  and  accessible  markets,  (b)  a 
productive  soil,  and  (c)  a  climate  suited  to  the  particular  fruits  to 
be  produced.  To  be  sure,  the  amateur  who  seeks  only  to  occupy 
his  time  with  a  pleasant  or  agreeable  occupation  has  no  need 
of  a  market,  but  in  general  those  who  plant  trees  do  so  for  the 
profit  there  is  either  to  themselves  or  to  their  children,  and  to 
this  class  we  address  ourselves. 

God  first  planted  a  garden  and  placed  man  in  it  to  dress 
it  and  keep  it,  with  permission  to  eat  of  everything  therein 
contained,  except  of  the  fruit  of  one  tree  which  common  con. 
sent,  for  some  unexplained  reason,  supposes  to  have  been  a 
seedling  apple  tree.  The  variety  is,  however,  immaterial,  but 
we  learn  from  the  oldest  and  best  possible  authority  that  Adam 


10 

was  a  gardener  and  fruit  grower,  and  that  the  other  branches 
of  agriculture  were  practiced  at  a  later  date. 

Considering  the  fertility  of  our  soil,  the  varied  production 
of  vegetables,  fruits,  flowers,  and  grains,  it  has  been  thought 
by  some  that  the  Garden  of  Eden  was  located  somewhere 
within  our  State;  but  since  reading  some  of  the  florid  descrip- 
tions of  other  states  and  their  claims  to  the  location  of  the 
first  garden,  we  concede  that  the  probabilities  are  against  us, 
provided  the  aforesaid  claims  are  all  true  in  fact.  In  this 
sketch  we  propose,  however,  to  leave  out  the  fanciful  and  de- 
vote ourselves  to  the  practical,  leaving  to  those  who  have  lands 
to  sell, or  towns  to  boom  the  pleasure  as  well  as  the  profit  (?)  of 
depicting  an  Arcadia  whose  realities  come  far  short  of  filling 
the  pictured  ideal. 

We  admit  at  the  outset  that  there  are  difficulties  and  dis- 
appointments surrounding  the  growing  of  fruit,  that  an  occa- 
sional failure,  like  that  of  the  present  year,  may  intervene  to 
rob  the  horticulturist  of  anticipated  profits;  but  who  shall  say 
that  the  rest  given  the  trees  will  not  in  the  end  be  beneficial 
to  them,  not  only  in  prolonging  their  lives,  but  also  to  act  as  a 
destroyer  of  noxious  insects  which  damage  the  quality  and  de- 
preciate the  value  of  the  apple,  cherry,  and  pear  in  occasional 
years  of  abundant  yields? 

To  all  who  are  seeking  for  a  new  location  we  can  confi- 
dently say  that  they  will  receive  a  warm  welcome  from  the 
horticulturists  of  Illinois  and  will  be  given  all  the  information 
they  ask,  for  as  a  rule  selfishness  is  not  a  fault  that  obtains 
among  the  men  that  engage  in  the  development  of  that  art 
which  "doth  lend  aid  to  nature. "  The  numerous  horticultural 
societies  which  abound  afford  ample  opportunities  for  exchang- 
ing experiences  and  information,  and  individuals  are  always 
willing  to  let  others  profit  by  their  experience. 

EDUCATIONAL  FACILITIES. 

The  fruit  grower  is  always  an  intelligent  man.  The  very 
nature  of  his  business  tends  to  increase  his  desire  for  learning, 
and  causes  him  to  study  sciences  which  to  the  average  mortal 
are  a  sealed  book.  This  being  the  case,  he  will  not  naturally 


11 

take  his  family  to  the  backwoods,  or  to  a  state  where  education 
is  neglected,  even  though  the  state  may  boast  of  an  enormous 
school  fund,  which,  in  some  unexplained  manner,  gets  distrib- 
uted in  the  towns,  leaving  the  country  people  to  provide  schools 
the  best  they  can,  or  giving  them  such  a  small  share  that 
practically  it  does  but  little  good. 

Illinois  is  noted  for  its  free  schools  in  which  every  child 
from  six  to  twenty-one  years  may  be  taught  without  money 
and  without  price.  It  has  over  ten  thousand  school  houses 
within  its  borders,  as  well  as  an  abundance  of  high  schools, 
seminaries,  colleges,  and  universities.  •  Two  Normal  univer- 
sities supply  teachers,  and  facilities  for  acquiring  higher  edu- 
cation are  abundant.  No  one  need  to  send  his  sons  or  daugh- 
ters outside  the  borders  of  the  State  to  secure  the  most  pol- 
ished or  scientific  education  unless  he  chooses  to  do  so. 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

offers  to  all  the  young  men  and  women  of  the  State  full  oppor- 
tunity and  every  facility  to  study  those  sciences  which  relate 
to  Agriculture  and  Horticulture,  and  has  among  its  professors 
some  of  the  most  eminent  scientists  living.  The  institution 
has  ample  means  and  grounds  for  demonstrating  in  a  thoroughly 
practical  manner  what  is  taught  in  its  classrooms.  Added  to 
the  present  extensive  collection  of  objects  of  natural  history 
will  be  the  handsome  exhibit  in  the  Illinois  State  building, 
which  at  the  close  of  the  World's  Exposition  was  removed  to 
the  University  at  Champaign. 

Following  closely  the  school  question  comes  the  one  of 


RELIGIOUS  INSTRUCTION, 

and  the  seeker  will  find  on  examination,  that  we  are  unusually 
well  supplied  in  that  regard,  and  that,  travel  where  he  will,  he 
is  seldom  out  of  sight  of  a  church  spire  or  the  sound  of  the 
church  bell.  In  the  matter  of  church  building  our  people  have 
been  remarkably  liberal,  as  the  hundreds  of  churches  scattered 
through  the  farming  communities  abundantly  attest. 


12 

OUR  POPULATION 

outside  the  large  cities  is  largely  composed  of  native  bom, 
though  here  and  there  may  be  found  an  occasional  settlement 
of  the  better  class  of  Germans  or  Swedes  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture, than  whom  it  would  be  hard  to  find  better  farmers  or 
more  quiet  and  industrious  citizens. 

The  tendency  of  population  both  here  and  in  Europe  is  to- 
ward the  large  cities.  Our  young  men  leave  the  farm  to  en- 
gage in  trade  or  manufacturing,  turning  the  producer  into  the 
consumer.  Many  deplore  this,  but  what  would  be  the  result 
to  the  farmer  and  fruit  grower  if  the  stream  was  reversed  and 
the  denizens  of  the  city  bought  farms  and  became  producers? 
The  increase  of  population  in  the  cities,  either  large  or  small, 
creates  an  increased  demand  for  farm  products,  and  it  is  our 
object  to  increase  the  production  so  as  to  cover  all  demands,  as 
well  as  to  cheapen  the  methods  of  production,  of  marketing 
and  of  preserving,  so  as  to  return  an  increased  profit  to  the 
grower.  It  is  not  so  much  the  high  prices  that  make  fruit 
growing  profitable  as  the  steady  demand  at  reasonable  prices, 
with  every  expenditure  of  production  reduced  to  the  minimum. 

AN  IDEAL  STATE. 

If  it  were  possible  to  develop  an  ideal  state,  it  would  be 
one  in  which  the  producer  and  the  consumer  would  be  brought 
into  immediate  relations  with  each  other  and  thereby  dispense 
with  the  services  of  all  middlemen.  Such  a  state  will,  how- 
ever, never  exist  except  in  the  brain  of  some  would-be  reformer 
or  romantic  writer,  for  the  very  obvious  reason  that  things  are 
as  they  are.  In  practical  life  the  more  diversified  the  industries 
of  a  country  the  more  profit  to  its  people.  On  the  one  hand 
we  see  this  exemplified  in  the  great  grain  growing  states 
of  the  West,  where  a  failure  of  the  grain  crops  entails  a  long 
list  of  calamities;  on  the  other  hand,  states  in  which  there  is 
a  more  diversified  industry,  may  suffer  from  a  total  loss  of 
some  crop  and  yet  have  an  abundance  of  other  wares  to  sell  to 
prevent  any  great  distress. 

It  is  also  better  exemplified  in  the  two  countries  of  Great 
Britain  and  France.  With  a  superficial  area  of  about  the  same 


13 

as  the  states  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Missouri,  they  con- 
tain a  population  of  some  seventy-five  millions  of  people,  or  ten 
millions  greater  than  that  of  the  whole  United  States.  In 
England,  nature  has  deposited  huge  beds  of  coal  and  ore  in 
close  proximity,  while  every  village,  almost,  contains  a  manu- 
factory. Nature  was  not  over  kind  to  England  in  giving  it  a 
salubrious  climate  or  a  fertile  soil,  yet  necessity  has  made  the 
most  of  both. 

France  is  much  more  favorably  situated  as  regards  soil 
and  climate,  and  more  nearly  resembles  that  of  our  State  in  its 
northern  provinces,  though  the  south  competes  with  Florida 
or  California.  France  also  has  mines  of  ore  and  coal,  and  to 
its  general  agriculture  adds  viticulture  and  silk  growing,  in 
neither  of  which  we  can  be  expected  to  excel  until  times  and 
the  demand,  as  well  as  the  wages  paid  labor,  change. 

These  two  nations  have  been  unusually  prosperous, 
brought  about  almost  entirely  by  the  fact  that  they  consume  all 
the  products  of  their  own  lands  besides  purchasing  great  quanti- 
ties from  foreigners,  paying  for  the  same  in  manufactured 
goods.  For  the  purpose  of  showing  the  comparison,  we  have 
been  to  the  pains  to  call  attention  to  the  foregoing  facts,  for 
the  very  reason  that  Illinois  is  so  situated  that  she  must  ere 
long  take  the  front  rank  among  the  states  as  a  producer  of 

MANUFACTURED  GOODS, 

and  when  that  time  comes  the  value  of  agricultural  products, 
of  stock,  of  the  dairy,  of  her  mines  and  fruit  farms  will  equal 
in  combined  value,  if  not  exceed,  those  of  any  of  the  other 
states.  We  are  not  wild  enthusiasts  that  we  make  such  an  as- 
sertion, but  we  know  thoroughly  the  capacity  and  capabilities 
of  our  great  and  beloved  commonwealth.  So  much  by  way  of 
preliminary  remarks;  now  for  the  more  practical  objects  which 
this  report  is  designed  to  promote. 

THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 

contains  nearly  58,000  square  miles  of  territory  and  about 
37,000,000  acres,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  or  can  be  made 
productive.  The  amount  of  surface  occupied  by  hilly  ranges, 


14 

undrainable  swamps,  and  sandy  plains  is  remarkably  small 
when  compared  with  the  whole. 

Along  the  southeast  border  of  the  State  the  Wabash  river 
supplies  an  outlet  for  numerous  small  streams  and  is  navigable 
for  a  considerable  distance  from  its  confluence  with  the  Ohio, 
which  forms  the  southern  boundary  and  unites  with  the  Missis- 
sippi at  Cairo.  This  latter  river  forms  the  west  boundary  of 
the  State,  and  along  its  bank  is  found  some  of  the  most  favor- 
ably located  situations  and  soils  for  orchard  and  vineyard  cul- 
ture. 

At  one  time  Alton,  situated  twenty  miles  above  St.  Louis, 
was  the  most  favored  spot  in  the  West  for  fruit  and  market 
gardening,  and  may  with  truth  be  called  the  first  seat  of  in- 
telligent horticultural  effort  in  Illinois,  and  is  today  one  of  the 
favored  spots,  though  other  and  newer  lands,  with  better  rail- 
way facilities,  excel  it  in  the  quantity  of  shipments. 

At  Warsaw  and  Hamilton,  also  located  on  the  banks  of  the 
Father  of  Waters,  are  situated  a  large  number  of  prolific  and 
profitable  vineyards  as  well  as  great  apple  orchards.  These 
points  are  no  exception  and  are  only  referred  to  because  the 
business  of  fruit  growing,  like  every  other,  appears  to  concen- 
trate itself  around  certain  points,  not  because  the  soil  is 
better,  but  for  the  reason  that  example  is  contagious  and  when 
once  a  business  is  established  conveniences  for  shipping  and 
reduction  of  freights  is  sure  to  follow  and  thereby  induce  still 
others  to  embark  in  the  business  in  the  near  vicinity. 

THE  ILLINOIS  RIVER 

also  intersects  the  State  from  north  to  south  and  is  navigable 
from  Alton  to  Henry,  and  with  the  completion  of  the  Chicago 
drainage  canal,  steamers  may  run  its  entire  length  and  tie  up 
beside  the  wharves  in  the  Garden  City.  Along  this  river 
are  thousands  of  bluffs  which  are  unexcelled  for  the  growing  of 
fruits  of  all  kind.  The  peculiar  Loess  formation  of  the  soil  in 
many  places  also  gives  it  a  superior  advantage  for  the  growing 
of  grain  and  vegetables. 

But  all  the  good  locations  for  orchards  do  not  by  any 
means  lie  along  the  banks  of  these  rivers  or  along  the  smaller 


MOMfUftX 

AMDOLPH 


HORTICULTURAL  DISTRICT  MAP  OF  ILLINOIS. 


17 

streams  which  feed  them.  Millions  of  acres  of  just  as  desir- 
able land  lie  within  a  five-mile  limit  of  railways,  of  which 
Illinois  possesses  more  miles  than  any  other  state. 

Covering  as  it  does  nearly  six  degrees  of  latitude  from 
north  to  south,  and  containing  soils  as  rich  as  the  most 
fastidious  can  desire,  there  is  very  little,  comparatively,  of  the 
surface  of  Illinois  that  is  not,  or  can  not  be  made  productive. 
The  surface  in  all  sections  is  sufficiently  undulating  to  afford 
good  drainage,  and  in  those  sections  where  the  surface  is  more 
rolling  but  very  little  of  the  soil  is  untillable  from  the  presence 
of  rocks  or  rocky  ridges.  No  one  can  describe  the  relief  aman 
feels  who  has  been  used  all  his  life  to  pulling  stumps  and  piling 
stones  when  he  first  works  in  Illinois  soil.  On  the  prairies  the 
steel  mold  board  of  his  plow  inverts  the  soil  without  a  break 
from  one  end  of  his  farm  to  the  other  if  he  so  desires,  and  to  a 
depth  limited  only  by  the  strength  of  his  team. 

DIVISION  INTO  DISTRICTS. 

While  the  State  is  divided  into  three  districts,  northern, 
central,  and  southern,  the  division  is  more  judicial  than  prac- 
tical, as  there  are  three  grand  divisions  in  which  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State  holds  alternate  sessions.  Agriculturally 
and  horticulturally  such  divisions  are  made  as  a  matter  of  con- 
venience, although  the  products  of  one  are  almost  always 
grown  in  the  other  districts,  with  the  restrictions  that  nature 
has  placed  upon  all  the  products  of  the  earth,  some  requiring 
more  heat  and  sunshine  to  mature  than  others,  and  fixing  the 
boundary  beyond  which  there  may  be  no  profit  found  in  grow- 
ing them.  It  is  this  question  of  profit  that  must  guide  us  in 
making  selection  of  a  location  for  fruit  growing.  The 

EARLY  SETTLEMENTS 

of  the  State  were  made  at  the  south  and  north  ends,  those  set- 
tlers who  came  from  the  South  bringing  with  them  the  cus- 
toms, habits,  grains,  and  fruits  of  that  section,  while  those 
who  occupied  the  north  brought  New  England  ideas,  grains, 
fruits,  and  vegetables.  For  many  years  what  is  now  known 


18 

as  the  central  division  of  the  State  was  comparatively  an  un- 
known wilderness,  except  along  the  courses  of  a  few  rivers. 
The  south  end  of  the  State  produced  in  great  abundance  a  class 
of  fruits  whose  varieties  were  entire  strangers  to  people  who 
lived  north,  and  vice  versa.  At  the  south  there  was  no  demand 
for  commercial  fruits,  for  there  were  no  large  cities,  and  no 
means  of  communication  except  by  boat  if  there  had  been. 
Almost  the  same  condition  existed  in  the  north  until  the  open- 
ing of  railways  made  Chicago  grow,  and  consequently  made  a 
market  for  the  surplus  grown  in  that  region.  For  many  years 
commercial  orchards  and  small  fruit  farms  paid  .good  dividends, 
and  would  today  were  the  same  conditions  present.  The  de- 
mands of  a  large  city  for  milk,  butter,  cheese,  hay,  and  vege- 
tables at  large  prices  caused  the  growing  of  fruit  to  be 
neglected;  and  as  the  old  orchards,  with  their  many  worthless 
varieties  and  non- bearers,  died  out,  new  ones  were  not  planted, 
and  many  sections  which  formerly  produced  abundant  yields 
of  apples  are  now  buyers  in  other  markets.  To  some  extent, 
also,  the  opening  of  railways  in  the  central  and  southern  por- 
tions of  the  State,  and  the  virgin  soils  for  the  first  time  made 
available  for  fruit  culture,  caused  many  fruit-growers  to  seek 
locations  in  those  sections.  The  earlier  season  further  south 
had  much  to  do  with  this,  for  then  as  now  the  first  fruits 
always  returned  to  the  grower  the  most  profit.  Land  was  also 
cheaper,  owing  to  its  remoteness  from  market,  although  it 
produced  crops  of  all  kinds  that  frequently  challenged  belief. 
All  that  was  required  was  to  tickle  the  soil  with  the  plow,  plant 
a  tree  or  vine,  and  the  most  gratifying  results  followed.  This 
change  of  condition  came  about  in  northern  Illinois  with  the 
year  1865,  when  the  close  of  the  war  threw  a  million  of  men, 
most  of  them  young  and  active,  into  civil  life  and  caused  a 
demand  for  the  opening  of  new  states  until  then  unthought  of 
by  the  most  enthusiastic. 

DIVERSIFIED  CROPS. 

The  effects  of  diversified  industry  and  products,  to  which 
we  called  the  attention  of  the  reader  in  the  cases  of  England 
and  France,  apply  with  equal  force  to  the  individual  as  well  as 
to  the  nation  or  state.  The  man  who  devotes  his  whole  farm 


19 

to  one  crop  may  for  a  time  be  very  successful,  but,  sooner  or 
later,  force  of  circumstances,  change  of  climate  or  of  demand 
will  compel  him  to  grow  more  than  the  one  crop.  The  ten- 
dency at  present,  however,  is  toward  (and  will  continue  to  be 
toward)  specialties,  on  the  farm  as  in  the  factory,  or  among 
professional  men.  The  farmer  who  has  been  brought  up  to 
grow  grain  or  stock  finds  no  time  to  grow  vegetables  or  fruit, 
but  instead  prefers  to  purchase  them  from  someone  who  de- 
votes his  time  to  their  production.  Small  fruit  growing  is 
working  out  of  the  hands  of  small  producers  to  some  extent, 
and  the  planting  of  great  commercial  orchards  will  soon  give 
another  direction  to  that  branch  of  the  business.  In  some  re- 
spects this  is  to  be  regretted,  but  as  diversified  agriculture 
will  continue  to  be  the  rule  in  northern  and  central  Illinois,  no 
wide  expanse  of  country  will  suffer  from  the  loss  of  a  crop  of 
apples,  as  is  sometimes  the  case  in  other  states,  where  the 
diversity  does  not  exist. 

Granted,  then,  that  a  diversified  system  of  farming  is  the 
most  profitable,  especially  for  the  man  of  small  means,  and 
with  a  growing  family,  all  of  whose  members  can  be  made  use- 
ful in  a  great  variety  of  ways  in  the  lesser  operations  of  fruit 
and  vegetable  growing,  it  becomes  our  duty  to  seek  for  a  suit- 
able place  to  begin  operations.  The  first  thing  of  all,  perhaps, 
to  select,  is  a  healthy  location,  with  salubrious  climate  and 
fertile  soil.  The  first  of  these  is  the  most  essential,  for  with- 
out health  there  can  he  no  happiness. 

THE  GREATEST  DESIDERATUM 

of  all,  however,  is  a  suitable  market;  for  of  what  value  is  an 
article  for  which  there  is  no  demand.  Why  locate  even  in  the 
Garden  of  Eden,  if  the  crop  of  apples,  pears,  and  other  fruits, 
rots  for  want  of  consumers.  The  market  of  all  markets,  we 
who  have  studied  this  subject  for  years  from  a  practical  stand- 
point, believe  we  possess  without  a  present  or  prospective 
rival. 

Geographically,  the  State  occupies  nearly  the  central  point 
between  the  Atlantic  coast  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  its 
south  end  very  nearly  the  half-way  point  between  the  Canadian 


20 

border  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Natural  and  mechanical  ob- 
stacles prevent  the  production  of  fruit  in  large  quantities  in 
some  of  the  surrounding  states,  and  large  areas  exist  which 
must  seek  supplies  elsewhere,  and  Illinois  appears  to  the  ob- 
server as  the  most  natural  place  in  which  they  should  be 
sought.  Its  railways  reach  out  in  every  direction,  and  there 
is  hardly  a  village  in  the  State  which  might  not  ship  fruit  in 
car  lots  to  the  remotest  point  in  the  Union  without  breaking 
bulk. 

For  years  Chicago  has  been,  and  probably  always  will  re- 
main the  chief  distributing  point  in  the  Northwest  for  fruits  of 
all  kinds.  All  roads  lead  to  Chicago,  and  will  continue  to  do 
so  until  the  requirements  of  business  and  population  make  a 
change  necessary,  an  event  yet  far  in  the  distant  future. 
St.  Louis,  also,  on  the  west  side  of  the  State,  consumes  vast 
quantities  of  fruit  and  produce. 


NORTHERN  ILLINOIS. 


The  farms  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  are  prac- 
tically given  over  to  the  growing  of  crops  which  go  to  feed 
the  inhabitants  of  a  large  city  and  a  manufacturing  pop- 
ulation, for  that  section  is  full  of  small  manufacturing  cities 
which  consume,  at  good  prices,  the  dairy  products,  the  veg- 
etables, poultry,  eggs,  and  small  fruits  of  the  surrounding 
farms.  It  is  said  that  the  land  in  this  section  is  too  valuable 
to  devote  to  fruit  growing,  especially  to  apples,  pears,  cher- 
ries, and  plums,  though  there  are  now  in  existence  many  or- 
chards whose  owners  derive  a  greater  revenue  from  them  than 
from  any  other  portion  of  the  farm,  at  the  same  time  treating 
it  with  a  neglect  that  would  be  fatal  to  any  other  crop. 

There  is  no  reason  whatever  why  Northern  Illinois  should 
not  become  a  competitor  with  the  rest  of  the  State  in  supply- 
ing a  portion  of  the  demand  for  orchard  and  small  fruits,  ex- 
cept the  general  one  that  once  a  community  turns  its  attention 
exclusively  to  one  industry,  or  one  branch  of  agriculture,  that 


21 

it  is  hard  to  prevail  upon  its  individual  members  to  engage  in 
something  they  admit  may  be  profitable,  but  with  which  they 
are  not  perfectly  familiar. 

All  varieties  of  small  fruit,  such  as  strawberries,  currants, 
blackberries,  raspberries,  gooseberries,  etc.,  are  as  much  at 
home  in  Northern  Illinois  as  anywhere  in  the  Union,  while 
grapes,  cherries,  plums,  pears,  and  apples,  can  be  made  prof- 
itable with  the  selection  of  varieties  which  are  prolific  and 
hardy.  There  is  hardly  a  village  in  the  whole  section,  which, 
in  the  time  of  ripening  of  the  local  crop  of  small  fruits,  has  a 
sufficient  supply  for  home  use,  while  the  farmer's  table  that 
has  an  abundance  is  the  exception,  not  the  rule. 

Northern  Illinois  is  most  favorably  situated  with  regard 
to  markets.  Nearly  every  township  is  within  six  hours  by  ex- 
press of  Chicago,  while  the  lumber  regions  of  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota,  and  the  wheat  fields  of  the  two  Dakotas,  are  not 
much  farther  removed;  while  several  trunk  lines  traverse  the 
whole  section  whose  branches  reach  to  every  part  of  the  North- 
west, West,  and  Southwest,  where  an  almost  unlimited  demand 
exists  for  the  products  for  which  the  district  is  noted,  as  well 
as  for  those  which  it  might  supply,  were  the  attention  of  its 
farmers  called  to  their  cultivation. 

The  farmers  in  this  section  possess  an  advantage  over 
those  in  other  portions  of  the  State,  for  the  reason  that  their 
market  is  largely  at  their  own  doors,  thus  doing  away  with 
the  cost  of  transportation,  as  well  as  the  commissions  of  the 
middleman.  This  permits  the  marketing  of  fruits  and  vege- 
tables in  a  more  mature  state  than  when  shipment  by  rail  is 
made  to  a  distant  point,  which  is  also  of  value  to  the  purchaser, 
who  can  always  be  certian  of  securing  a  good  article,  for  the 
man  of  whom  he  buys  is  generally  known  to  him,  and  self  inter- 
est prevents  the  palming  off  upon  customers  of  immature  or 
worthless  articles,  an  observation  which  cannot  always  with 
truth  be  made  of  those  who  ship  to  a  distant  city. 


22 
CENTRAL  ILLINOIS 


which  includes  all  that  section  of  the  State  known  as  the  "Corn 
Belt,"  and  which  may  be  said  to  begin  near  the  north  line  of 
Livingston  county,  extending  as  far  south  as  Pana,  to  the 
marl  soil  which  near  there,  with  few  exceptions,  continues 
southward  for  more  than  a  hundred  miles,  until  the  hills  which 
extend  across  the  State  from  east  to  west  are  reached,  is  much 
larger  and  possesses  a  greater  variety  of  soil  than  either  of  the 
other  sections,  and  a  more  extensive  list  of  products  can  be 
grown. 

Although  noted  for  its  great  fields  of  corn,  oats,  and 
wheat,  for  its  immense  meadows,  and  the  number  of  its  horses, 
cattle,  and  hogs,  its  production  of  fruit  is  by  no  means  insig- 
nificant in  value.  Large  orchards  of  apples  may  be  found  in 
every  county  from  the  Indiana  to  the  Iowa  line,  a  distance  of 
some  two  hundred  and  forty  miles.  It  is  in  this  section  that 
many  of  the  largest  nurseries  for  the  propagation  of  all  kinds 
of  fruit  trees  are  to  be  found,  and  from  the  earliest  settlement 
the  quantity  and  quality  of  its  tree  fruits  have  been  admitted. 
Any  one  who  has  attended  the  annual  State  Fair  during  the 
past  thirty-five  years,  must  have  been  forcibly  struck  with  the 
magnitude  and  beauty  of  the  various  exhibits  from  that  section 
as  well  as  by  the  general  excellence  of  individual  varieties;  the 
completeness  of  the  displays  and  great  number  of  varieties  of 
the  different  kinds  of  fruit.  Much  of  this  is  due  to  the  local 
nurserymen,  many  of  whom  are  fruit  raisers  as  well  as  tree 
growers,  who  seek  to  inculcate  by  example  what  they  preach 
in  theory.  It  may  be  said  with  truth  that  given  an  intelligent 
and  conscientious  nurseryman  in  a  given  locality,  that  the 
yield  of  fruit  in  that  vicinity  will  be  greater,  owing  to  his  ex- 
ample and  instruction,  than  in  a  place  where  such  a  man  is  not 
located.  We  might  cite  many  cases  to  prove  this,  such  as 
Princeton,  in  Bureau  county;  Bloomington,  in  McLean;  Cham- 
paign, in  Champaign;  Freeport,  in  Stephenson;  and  Centralia, 
in  Marion  county,  near  all  of  which  places  large  nurseries  have 
in  former  times  exerted  an  influence,  and  in  some  of  them  con- 
tinue to  work  for  the  increase  of  that  "art  which  doth  mend 
nature." 


23 

This  section  of  the  State,  in  addition  to  producing  a  large 
yield  of  apples,  pears,  etc. ,  is  admirably  situated  for  the  pro- 
duction of  sweet  potatoes,  vegetables,  asparagus,  small  fruits, 
and  melons,  all  of  which  find  a  ready  market  at  no  great  distance. 

This  division  of  the  State  is  devoted  in  a  large  measure  to 
grain  and  stock  raising,  and  in  it  the  farms  are  generally 
larger  in  area  than  in  the  other  divisions,  for  the  reason  that 
diversified  farming  is  yet  in  its  infancy,  the  population 
being  more  sparse  and  having  fewer  manufacturing  towns 
to  make  a  market  for  the  more  varied  products  of  the  orchard 
and  the  garden.  For  this  reason  more  attention  is  given  to 
those  products  which  the  general  market  demands,  and  which 
will  bear  transporting  a  long  distance  to  market  and  not  spoil 
in  transit.  It  may  here  be  said  that  this  very  condition  also 
makes  a  market  for  many  of  the  products  of  the  garden,  and  it 
is  no  unusual  thing  to  see  a  "  big"  farmer  purchasing  fruit, 
vegetables,  and  melons  in  the  village,  for  the  use  of  his  family, 
when  his  own  senses  as  well  as  interest,  should  teach  him  that 
an  abundant  supply  could  be  grown  much  cheaper  at  home  if 
he  would  but  plant  the  trees  and  garden,  and  devote  a  portion 
of  the  time  he  spends  in  growing  corn  to  their  cultivation. 

Central  Illinois  is  the  home  of  the  apple  and  pear,  and 
peaches  may  also  be  grown,  although  there  will  be  an  occa- 
sional failure,  as  there  frequently  is  in  the  most  favored  locali- 
ties, notably  in  Delaware,  Michigan,  and  Southern  Illinois,  all 
noted  for  their  peaches. 

Small  fruit  may  be  produced  in  such  abundance  as  to  even 
astonish  the  fruit  grower  from  what  are  called  the  favored  spots. 
Yields  of  strawberries  of  one  hundred  bushels  per  acre  are  not 
unusual,  while  raspberries,  blackberries,  and  currants  are  alike 
productive.  A  yield  of  twenty  pounds  of  Concord  grapes  per 
vine  three  years  planted  is  not  unusual,  while  the  quality  is 
unexcelled.  May  or  Richmond  cherry  trees  frequently  yield 
two  bushels  at  eight  years  old,  and  there  is  always  a  market, 
it  being  a  favorite  fruit  for  canning.  When  canning  estab- 
lishments are  common  to  every  neighborhood  as  they  must  in 
time  become,  the  demand  for  this  fruit  will  become  compara- 
tively unlimited.  It  supplies  an  acid  craved  by  the  stomach 
at  all  seasons,  therefore  the  green  and  canned  fruit  is  much  in 
demand. 


24 

Recognizing  the  fact  that  the  market  for  apples  is  prac- 
tically unlimited,  many  proprietors  of  large  farms  have  planted 
extensive  orchards.  Formerly  the  planting  of  an  apple  orchard 
was  an  experiment,  but  at  the  present  the  varieties  which  may 
be  relied  upon  to  yield  a  profit  are  well  known.  No  planter  of  ex- 
perience would  think  of  accepting  as  a  gift  trees  for  planting  of 
such  varieties  as  Bald  win,  Rhode  Island  Greening,  or  any  of  the 
Pippins,  once  famed  in  New  York  and  New  England,  and  he 
would  look  with  suspicion  upon  all  the  tender-skinned  and 
often  tender- wooded  varieties  which  were  the  favorites  of  fruit- 
growers forty  or  fifty  years  ago.  Experience  has  taught  that 
only  those  varieties  which  come  early  into  bearing,  which  pro- 
duce a  good  yield  under  most  circumstances,  and  with  a  hardy 
body  to  withstand  the  fluctuating  temperature  of  our  change- 
able winters,  should  be  given  a  place  in  a  commercial  orchard. 
Among  the  winter  varieties  found  most  profitable  are  the  Ben 
Davis,  Willow,  Minkler,  Missouri  Pippin,  Grimes'  Golden,  and 
Jonathan.  This  list  may  be  extended  to  suit  localities,  but 
the  commercial  orchardist  is  planting  a  limited  number  of 
varieties  only. 

The  list  of  summer  and  fall  apples  that  are  hardy  and  pro- 
duce abundantly  is  very  extensive,  but  as  the  demand  for  these 
is  limited  and  must  be  governed  largely  by  local  conditions,  we 
do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  devote  any  space  to  their  discus- 
sion, further  than  to  say  that  among  the  best  known  and  most 
profitable  are  the  Red  Astrachan,  Duchess  of  Oldenburg, 
Wealthy,  and  Maiden's  Blush.  These  are  all  hardy  and  with- 
stand a  much  lower  temperature  than  ever  occurs  in  Central 
Illinois. 

Pears  as  yet  may  be  called  a  luxury  in  nearly  all  Central 
Illinois,  though  why,  it  would  be  hard  to  tell.  The  average 
farmer  contents  himself  with  planting  a  couple,  or  at  most 
half  a  dozen  trees.  "Pears  don't  pay,"  is  the  common  re- 
mark, and  yet  where  they  are  given  as  much  care  as  apple 
trees,  many  varieties  bear  profusely  and  are  of  a  most  excel- 
lent quality.  As  in  the  case  of  apples,  location  must  deter- 
mine what  kinds  to  plant. 

While  the  statement  is  true  that  both  Northern  and  Cen- 
tral Illinois  are  in  their  entirety  capable  of  producing  unlim- 


25 

ited  quantities  of  fruit  and  vegetables,  the  fact,  nevertheless, 
exists  that 


SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS 


possesses  a  soil  and  climate,  which  in  the  estimate  of  practical 
men,  make  it  par  excellence  the  home  of  all  the  fruits  grown  in 
its  latitudes  anywhere.  Covered  originally  over  nearly  half 
its  area  with  a  huge  growth  of  forest  trees,  which  attested  the 
fertility  of  the  soil  and  a  favorable  climate,  it  was  so  far  re- 
moved from  market  except  by  steam  or  flat-boat  that  its  forests 
were  comparatively  untouched  when  the  other  sections  had 
become  well  settled.  The  prairies  of  the  interior  were  con- 
sidered valueless  for  any  practical  purpose,  but  time  has  dem- 
onstrated that  the  soil  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  production 
of  hay,  wheat,  small  fruit,  and  especially  apples,  large  orchards 
of  which  are  to  be  found  along  or  near  the  railways. 

When  the  Illinois  Central  railway  first  penetrated  the  hills 
of  the  Grand  Chain,  and  the  sound  of  the  locomotive  whistle 
awoke  the  sleepy  inhabitants  from  their  lethargy,  and  opened 
a  market  for  their  products  of  which  they  had  never  dreamed, 
but  few  of  the  natives  realized  the  capabilities  and  opportuni- 
ties that  were  at  their  doors.  Slowly,  one  by  one,  buyers  of 
fruit  from  Chicago  made  their  way  to  this  region,  which  in  the 
language  of  that  day  was  called  Egypt,  from  the  fact  that  in 
years  of  scarcity  the  residents  further  north  had  gone  there 
for  corn,  but  which  term  was  soon  made  to  mean  intellectual 
darkness,  from  the  supposed  obtuseness  of  many  of  the  original 
inhabitants  who  resisted  progress  until  it  pushed  them  aside. 

The  size  and  quality  of  the  peaches  and  the  beauty  of  the 
apples  as  well  as  the  healthy  growth  of  the  few  native  pear 
trees  excited  the  wonder  and  curiosity  of  the  outside  world, 
and  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  nurserymen  and  others 
from  the  North,  who  saw  the  opportunity  and  took  advantage 
of  it,  so  that  at  the  present  time  whole  townships  maybe  said 
to  be  given  over  entirely  to  fruit  and  vegetable  culture. 


26 
Fruit  growing  at  this  early  time  was  only 

IN  ITS  INFANCY, 

and  the  mistakes  were  more  numerous  at  first  than  the  suc- 
cesses. Varieties  brought  from  the  North  proved  valueless, 
and  years  were  often  devoted  to  the  culture  of  trees,  to  result 
only  in  disappointment  when  the  period  of  fruitage  arrived. 
Gradually,  however,  experience  has  brought  wisdom,  and  to- 
day the  intelligent  fruit  or  vegetable  grower  of  Southern 
Illinois  plants  with  as  much  confidence  and  gathers  with  as 
much  certainty,  the  accident  of  season  excepted,  as  though  his 
business  was  an  exact  science  and  governed  by  inexorable 
rules. 

Since  the  war  great  mills  have  sprung  up  which  make  a 
market  for  the  native  forest  trees,  and  immense  beds  of  coal 
are  found  under  almost  this  entire  section,  giving  occupation 
to  a  large  population,  and  also  creating  a  home  demand  for 
fruit.  New  railways  have  also  opened  up  new  fields,  and  prac- 
tically there  is  no  portion  of  Southern  Illinois  that  does  not 
possess  an  easy  and  direct  outlet  to  market. 

THE  SUNNY  SKIES 

of  this  section  remind  one  of  Italy,  which  lies  exactly  in  the 
same  degrees  of  latitude,  and  have  often  caused  it  to  be  called 
the  "Italy  of  America."  Many  fruits  and  vegetables  which 
grow  only  in  a  tropical  clime,  here  arrive  at  perfection.  Sweet 
potatoes  grown  here  equal  those  grown  in  Jersey  in  quality, 
while  the  list  of  other  vegetables  grown  to  perfection  would 
fill  a  catalogue.  Nowhere  in  the  world  are  there  larger  fields 
of  strawberries,  and  nowhere  do  they  reach  a  higher  degree  of 
perfection  than  on  the  sun-kissed  hills  and  prairies  of  Southern 
Illinois.  Although  the  extension  of  railways  southward  has 
removed,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  business  of  supplying  early 
fruits  and  vegetables  from  Illinois  to  states  further  south,  the 
fact  yet  remains  that  for  supplying  the  market  with  great 
quantities  of  fruit  and  vegetables  at  prices  which  the  masses 
can  afford  to  pay,  Southern  Illinois  is  the  main  reliance  of  the 
entire  Northwest. 


27 

Berries  gathered  in  the  morning  of  one  day  reach  all  por- 
tions of  Illinois  in  time  for  the  early  marketing  of  the  next 
day,  and  by  noon  many  of  the  people  in  cities  of  Iowa,  Wis- 
consin, and  Michigan,  have  the  berries  on  their  tables  almost 
as  fresh  as  though  just  gathered  from  the  vines.  In  the  straw- 
berry season,  the  Illinois  Central  and  other  railways  run 
trains  made  up  exclusively  of  cars  loaded  with  berries,  which 
are  run  on  express  time  in  order  to  reach  market  at  a  suitable 
hour.  In  what  other  state  may  a  location  be  found  where  a 
train  of  thirty  or  more  cars  loaded  with  strawberries,  the 
most  perishable  as  well  as  the  queen  of  fruits,  is  rushed  across 
the  country  to  market  at  lightning  speed?  The  same  thing  is 
done  with  early  vegetable  trains,  with  tomatoes,  peaches,  and 
later  with  sweet  potatoes  and  apples. 

We  might  dilate  upon  the  size  and  beauty  of  the  other 
fruits  produced  in  this  section  of  our  State,  but  do  not  think  it 
necessary.  Everywhere  the  raspberry  and  blackberry  grow 
wild  in  the  greatest  profusion,  and  many  of  the  wild  canes 
produce  fruit  which  even  the  cultivated  varieties  do  not  excel, 
showing  conclusively  that  nature  designed  this  for  a  small  fruit 
region.  If  any  one  questions  our  assertions  let  him  take  a 
trip  and  visit  any  of  the  noted  fruit  growing  centers  in  South- 
ern Illinois,  and  he  will  be  convinced  that  what  we  have  said 
is  the  truth  but  half  told. 

After  all  that  may  be  said,  this  region  is  peculiarly  fitted 
for  the 

PRODUCTION  OF  THE  APPLE. 

Here  it  arrives  at  its  greatest  perfection  in  size  and  beauty. 
The  latitude  gives  almost  an  entire  freedom  in  spring  from 
damage  by  late  frosts,  while  the  season  being  longer,  the  fruit 
ripens  and  colors  under  the  rays  of  the  autumn  sun,  giving 
a  size  and  a  finish  of  color  that  even  the  famous  climate  of  Cal- 
ifornia cannot  excel. 

In  this  section  many  varieties  are  grown  for  the  early 
market  which  cannot  be  so  profitably  done  further  north. 
Practically,  Southern  Illinois  has  the  monopoly  of  the  early 
apple  trade,  sending  to  all  sections  of  the  Northwest,  and  no 


28 

reason  exists  why  it  should  not  continue  to  be  so  for  all  time 
to  come. 

The  orchardist  of  Illinois  is  not  dependent  upon  some  water 
company  for  success.  While  his  trees  are  small,  crops  of  corn, 
potatoes,  berries,  and  vegetables  may  be  grown  in  the  same 
ground  without  detriment  to  the  trees.  So  soon,  however,  as 
the  trees  begin  to  require  nourishment  for  the  ripening  of 
fruit,  all  intelligent  orchardists  cease  trying  to  grow  two  crops 
at  once,  but  instead  feed  the  tree,  or  should  do  so,  to  enable  it 
to  maintain  a  healthy  condition  by  means  of  which  it  only  can 
continue  to  be  of  value. 

There  is  here  no  place  for  indulging  in  a  panegyric  over 
certain  varieties;  there  are  a  few  favorites  for  market  that  are 
common  to  all  of  Illinois,  others  which  suit  one  locality  and  not 
the  other,  all  of  which  are  more  or  less  profitable,  but  whose 
value  to  the  planter  must  be  determined  by  the  experience  of 
men  who  have  tried  them  in  the  different  sections  of  the  State. 
It  has,  however,  been  uniformly  found  that  Ben  Davis,  Wine- 
sap,  and  Rome  Beauty  are  everywhere  successful,  and  that  in 
some  localities  other  varieties  are  equal  favorites.  In  planting 
orchards  in  Southern  Illinois  hardiness  of  tree  cuts  no  figure, 
for  never  in  the  history  of  the  section  has  there  been  so  low  a 
temperature  as  to  injure  a  tree. 

Much  attention  is  now  being  given  to  the  growth  of  Jap- 
anese plums  and  persimmons,  and  no  reason  exists  why  the 
English  walnut  may  not  be  grown  to  perfection. 

SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS 

also  has  another  advantage,  for  it  contains  within  its  borders 
abundant  and  cheap  material  for  the  making  of  barrels,  boxes, 
crates,  and  baskets  in  which  to  ship  its  fruit.  This  is  an  im- 
portant factor,  for  all  dealers  know  that  fruit  in  new,  clean 
packages  sells  for  a  better  price  than  an  equally  good  quality 
packed  in  dirty  or  second-hand  packages. 

The  attention  of  commercial  orchardists  has  of  late  years 
been  turned  to  the  south  half  of  the  State  as  a  desirable  point 
for  the  planting  of 


29 

LARGE  COMMERCIAL  ORCHARDS. 

And  while  many  of  the  counties  possess  a  world- wide  reputa- 
tion for  wheat  and  flour,  much  of  this  land  is  now,  or  shortly 
will  be,  planted  with  apple  orchards.  The  sums  for  which 
crops  of  apples  have  been  sold  in  past  years  are  almost  beyond 
belief.  Men  have  frequently  sold  one  crop  for  enough  to  pay 
for  the  land  and  all  the  expenses  of  culture,  and  so  confident 
are  others  of  reaching  success  that  the  size  of  their  orchards 
is  limited  only  by  their  ability  to  buy  the  land  and  trees. 
When  we  state  that  land  in  these  counties  may  be  had  at  from 
ten  to  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre  we  tell  the  simple  truth, 
which  can  be  verified  by  a  visit  to  them. 

ARE  THERE  DRAWBACKS  ? 

The  reader  doubtless  asks  himself,  why,  if  these  state- 
ments are  true,  that  the  field  has  not  been  entered  upon  ere 
this?  "  There  are  certainly  drawbacks  of  which  no  one  can 
learn  until  dear  experience  has  exposed  them."  Such  is  not 
the  case,  although,  as  we  have  said,  there  are  always  some 
disappointments  to  fruit-growers  as  well  as  to  others. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  with  the  building  of  the  Pacific 
railways  and  the  settling  of  difficulties  with  the  Indians  in  the 
then  territories  of  Nebraska,  Dakota,  Colorado,  etc.,  a  great 
effort  was  made  by  the  railway  companies  to  induce  people  to 
go  West  and  settle.  The  liberal  "Homestead  law"  drew  the 
young  men  and  those  with  little  capital  to  the  West,  and  for 
twenty-five  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  men,  women,  and 
children  hurried  through  the  states  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  and 
Iowa  to  the  Eldorado  beyond  the  Missouri,  hoping  to  become 
suddenly  well-to-do,  if  not  wealthy.  Now  people  are  begin- 
ning to  discover  that  the  "boomer"  states  are  inferior  in 
many  respects  to  the  ones  that  were  passed  so  hastily  and 
blindly  over,  and  as  a  result  more  inquiries  than  usual  are 
being  made  for  lands  in  Illinois.  For  this  class  of  inquirers 
these  pages  are  written. 

THE  KING  OF  FRUIT, 

if  such  a  term  may  be  permitted,  is  the  apple.     Growing  as  it 
does  to  greater  or  less  perfection  in  nearly  every  state  of  the 
—3 


3o 

Union,  its  use  is  as  general  as  that  of  any  other  commodity, 
sugar  not  excepted.  One  may  dilate  upon  the  beauty  of  an 
orange  grove;  go  into  ecstacies  of  enthusiasm  over  the  aroma, 
color,  and  taste  of  the  fruit,  yet  it  is  but  a  luxury  and  always 
will  remain  such.  The  man  or  woman  who  seeks  to  satisfy 
the  craving  of  hunger  with  an  orange,  seeks  in  vain,  though 
we  readily  admit  that  a  sweet  ripe  orange  is  always  grateful 
to  the  palate  and  cooling  to  the  system.  The  growing  of 
lemons,  figs,  and  dates,  may  be  poetic,  but  we  must  remember 
that  only  a  small  section  of  our  country  is  suitable  for  the 
growth  of  citrous  fruits,  and  that  the  demand  for  them  does 
not  keep  pace  with  the  production.  We  do  not  say  this  to  dis- 
courage anyone  from  seeking  to  engage  in  the  growing  of 
citrous  fruits  if  they  have  a  liking  for  it,  but  to  call  attention 
to  the  fact  that  there  is  another  side,  other  than  the  rosy  one 
so  often  painted  to  the  home-seeker,  by  men  who  have  land  to 
sell  or  are  interested  in  some  water  or  flume  company. 
The  apple,  however,  is  a 

STAPLE  ARTICLE  OF  FOOD, 

either  raw  or  cooked,  and  as  satisfying  to  the  appetite  as  any 
vegetable  production.  What  excels  for  delicacy  an  apple 
cooked  and  eaten  with  sugar  and  cream?  What  more  satis- 
fying to  the  appetite  than  bread  and  butter  and  apple  sauce? 
What  pleasure  of  the  imagination  can  for  a  moment  hold  its 
own  with  the  recollection  of  the  apple  pies  that  "mother"  made 
when  we  were  boys,  and  which  often  served  to  reward  us  when 
we  were  good,  and  whose  coveted  squares  were  refused  us  as  a 
punishment  when  naughty.  Apple  dumplings  is  a  dish  fa- 
miliar to  every  American  and  the  term  a  household  word.  Who, 
knowing  the  many  methods  by  which  the  apple  is  and  can  be 
made  palatable,  can  deny  that  it  heads  the  list  of  fruits  and  is 
justly  entitled  to  rank  as  the  monarch  of  all.  It  is  the  first 
fruit  mentioned  in  scripture,  and  though  to  its  first  eating  the 
many  ills  to  which  humanity  is  heir  is  attributed,  still  we  must 
think  that  there  is  certainly  some  mistake  about  this,  consid- 
ering the  part  that  the  apple  has  borne  in  the  economy  of  the 
nations  who  inhabit  the  greater  part  of  the  temperate  zone. 


> 

* 


ILLINOIS  FRUIT  EXHIBIT  AND  PAVILION,  WORLD'S  FAIR,   1893. 


33 

As  this  article  is  not  intended  to  discuss  varieties,  or 
when  or  how  to  plant,  it  would  be  a  work  of  supererogation  to 
select  a  list  of  apples,  and  for  information  on  this  subject  we 
refer  the  reader  to  the  reports  of  the  State  Horticultural  So- 
ciety; or  better  still,  to  a  personal  examination  of  localities 
where  inquiry  will  at  once  disclose  which  are  prolific  and  which 
failures.  We  do  not  advise  any  one  to  engage  in  the  business 
of  planting  orchards  of  untried  varieties,  even  though  they 
promise  well;  the  beaten  track  is  always  safest,  though  the 
scenery  may  not  be  so  attractive  as  another  which  promises  a 
shorter  cut  across  lots. 

Our  attention  so  far  has  been  devoted  to  the  edible  and 
market  value  of  the  apple  in  its  natural  state.  There  are, 
however,  other  conditions  in  which  it  finds  a  ready  and  in- 
creasing market  in  a  manufactured  state. 

CIDER  MAKING, 

as  formerly  practiced,  was  a  wasteful  and  unsatisfactory  pro- 
cess. A  large  share  of  the  juice  went  to  waste  in  the  pomace, 
which  the  average  press  was  unable  to  extract.  A  large  share 
of  the  stuff  sold  as  pure  cider  is  guiltless  of  apple  juice,  but  is 
manufactured  of  ingredients  known  only  to  the  chemist.  If 
pure  when  it  leaves  the  manufacturer,  it  soon  becomes  so  di- 
luted that  it  has  more  kinship  to  the  pump  than  to  the  cider 
press,  and  the  market  for  pure,  sweet  cider  is  in  consequence 
less  than  it  should  be.  Of  late  years  many  processes  have  been 
employed  to  keep  it  sweet  from  one  season  to  another,  so  that 
those  who  desire  may  secure  it  sweet  at  all  times,  and  the 
market  has  very  much  increased. 

Its  greatest  value,  however,  is  not  as  a  drink,  but  as  the 
foundation  and  stock  for 

VINEGAR  MAKING. 

Our  Illinois  legislators  have  not  as  yet  succeeded  in  enact- 
ing a  law  to  prevent  the  imposition  of  unhealthy  acids  upon  an 
unsuspecting  public  as  "pure  cider  vinegar,"  although  fre- 
quently asked  to  do  so.  Ultimately  we  think  they  will  be  con- 
vinced that  the  use  of  chemicals  as  vinegar  is  deleterious  to 


34 

health;  or,  if  they  cannot  be  convinced  of  that,  they  may  be 
brought  to  see  that  it  is  as  much  an  imposition  to  sell  a  cus- 
tomer acid  for  cider  vinegar  as  it  is  to  sell  oleomargarine  for 
butter,  and  to  prevent  the  swindle  pass  a  law  making  it  a 
misdemeanor  to  sell  either  under  a  false  name. 

Although  in  general  we  have  not  much  to  learn  from  for- 
eigners, we  might  with  profit  adopt  many  of  the  laws  of  Ger- 
many or  England  which  require  a  strict  supervision  of  the 
articles  sold  as  food,  to  prevent  the  sale  of  dangerous  or  un- 
healthy articles  and  compounds  for  what  they  are  not.  When 
it  is  made  a  misdemeanor  punishable  with  a  fine  for  any  one  to 
sell  vinegar  under  the  name  of 


PURE  CIDER  VINEGAR 

which  is  not  genuine,  a  reform  in  this  direction  will  follow,  and 
a  market  for  the  surplus  fruit  of  our  orchards  will  be  opened 
that  will  astonish  the  fruit  growers  themselves. 

Owing  to  the  competition  of  the  acid  vinegars  sold  under 
the  name  of  "cider  or  apple  vinegar,"  no  great  amount  of  cap- 
ital has  been  invested  in  the  business  of  making  the  genuine 
article,  but  we  are  confident  that  with  the  increase  of  our  or- 
chards such  manufactories  will  spring  up.  The  capital  re- 
quired need  not  be  large,  but  the  market  is  assured.  At 
present  there  is  little  uniformity  in  the  pure  article,  for  the 
average  orchardist  who  has  but  a  few  barrels  of  cider  to  turn 
into  vinegar  has  no  facilities  or  does  not  think  it  worth  while 
to  take  the  time  to  make  his  product  uniform,  hence  one  barrel 
is  excellent,  another  is  poor,  and  the  third  of  decidedly  bad 
quality.  A  manufactory  located  conveniently  to  the  orchards, 
taking  both  the  surplus  cider  and  unmarketable  fruits  and 
making  a  staple  article  of  standard  cider  vinegar  is  certain  to 
succeed.  With  this  branch  of  the  business  fully  developed, 
another  source  of  profit  will  be  opened  to  the  small  producer 
of  fruit  as  well  as  the  large  one;  for  while  the  latter  may  work 
up  all  his  windfalls  and  fruit  unfit  to  market  on  his  own  prem- 
ises, the  small  grower  can  dispose  of  his  in  bulk  to  the  vinegar 
maker. 


35 
CANNING  AND  PRESERVING. 

This  industry  is  yet  in  its  infancy  and  very  few  realize 
the  extent  to  which  it  may  be  developed.  Our  small  fruits 
and  many  of  our  vegetables  might  be  canned  with  profit,  but 
capital  will  not  come  in  until  there  is  an  assured  supply  during 
the  entire  season,  for  no  one  article  alone  can  be  made  profita- 
ble. The  business  is  steadily  growing,  and  in  time  we  hope  to 
see  in  every  township  a  factory  which  will  take  the  strawber- 
ries and  other  small  fruits,  the  cherries,  plums,  peaches,  and 
pears,  and  put  them  on  the  market  in  cans  or  in  glass;  and 
then  when  the  grandest  of  all  fruits,  the  apple,  ripens,  take 
the  surplus  and  work  it  into  jelly,  dry  it,  press  it  into  cider 
and  turn  that  into  vinegar.  Then  with  a  certain  market  for 
all  his  crop  the  orchardist  and  small  fruit  grower  can  be  as- 
sured of  satisfactory  returns  for  his  surplus  fruit.  There  is 
also  a  demand  for  fruit  juices  for  the  compounding  of  many 
articles,  and  thousands  of  dollars'  worth  of  cherry,  raspberry, 
and  other  fruit  juices  are  annually  imported  from  foreign  coun- 
tries. With  a  soil  and  a  climate  much  better  fitted  for  the 
production  of  these  fruits  than  that  from  whence  the  juices 
are  brought,  it  would  seem  a  shame  that  we  send  our  money 
abroad  when  it  could  be  just  as  well  employed  at  our  own 
doors. 

In  conclusion  we  desire  to  call  the  attention  of 

BUYERS  AND  EXPORTERS  OF  APPLES 

to  the  Illinois  orchards.  Heretofore  the  business  of  growing 
apples  has  been  mostly  in  the  hands  of  small  producers,  but 
that  day  is  passing  away.  There  are  now  localities  in  abund- 
ance where  a  car  load  or  ten  car  loads  of  one  variety  may  be 
had.  Formerly  a  few  barrels  of  one  variety  only  were  for 
sale;  now  this  is  changed.  In  a  few  years,  when  the  young 
orchards  now  just  coming  into  bearing  have  developed,  there 
will  be  no  complaint  that  car  lots  of  one  kind  cannot  be  had; 
in  fact  this  objection  has  even  now  lost  its  force.  The  super- 
ior quality,  the  beautiful  color,  and  the  uniformity  of  Illinois 
apples  are  bound  to  make  them  favorites  in  the  markets  of  the 
world.  In  fact,  we  can  see  no  more  profitable  avenue  open  to 


36 


the  capitalist  than  to  purchase  Illinois  apples  in  the  fall,  place 
them  in  cold  storage,  and  sell  them  out  at  a  good  price  in  June 
and  July  of  the  next  year  before  the  advent  of  the  new  crop 
in  the  market. 

With  full  faith  that  the  correctness  of  what  we  have  said 
about  the  Horticultural  qualities  of  Illinois  is  fully  substan- 
tiated by  the  facts,  we  ask  you  to  come  and  investigate  for 
yourself;  then  if  our  soil,  our  climate,  and  our  market  does 
not  suit  you,  we  can  only  wish  you  Godspeed  to  some  state 
where  the  roseate  hue  of  the  pictures  painted  of  climate,  of 
soil,  of  wealth,  of  health,  form  an  attraction  hard  to  resist, 
and  whose  persistent  telling  has  made  even  the  relaters  believe 
them  to  be  truth. 


THE  HoRTieaLTfeiRAL  EXHIBIT. 


fill  ANY  exhibits  of  great  value  and  interest  were  to  be  seen 

/  •  1     at  the  great  Columbian  Exposition  which  has  just  closed ; 

^—   but  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  one  exhibit  interested  the 

people  more  than  that  of  fruits,  plants,  and  flowers  to  be  found 

in  the  Horticultural  building. 

To  the  horticulturist  the  exhibit  was  peculiarly  interest- 
ing, for  it  gave  him  the  opportunity  to  study  the  effects  of  dif- 
ferent soils  and  climate  upon  the  well-known  standard  varieties 
of  fruits.  For  example,  the  Yellow  Belleflower  apple,  grown 
in  the  several  states  of  New  York,  Minnesota,  Arkansas,  and 
the  irrigated  valleys  of  Colorado  and  Oregon,  were  hardly 
to  be  recognized  as  the  same  variety,  except  by  the  expert. 
While  there  was  such  a  great  variation  in  the  color,  size,  and 
appearance  of  the  fruit  there  were  also  as  radical  differences  in 
the  taste,  texture,  and  keeping  qualities  when  grown  in  these 
widely  different  localities  of  the  country.  It  emphasizes  most 
strongly  the  fact  that  each  state,  and  not  alone  each  state,  but 
each  locality,  must  determine  for  itself  what  varieties  are 
best  adapted  to  its  particular  soil  and  climate.  As  demon- 
strated at  this  exhibit  there  are  certain  varieties  of  fruit  which 
will  succeed  over  a  much  wider  range  of  territory  than  will 
some  other  varieties  which  seem  to  require  a  certain  kind  of 
soil  in  order  to  reach  their  greatest  perfection. 

The  hardy  winter  apple  of  the  Northern  States  becomes  a 
summer  or  fall  apple  when  grown  in  Arkansas,  or  even  in 
Southern  Illinois;  and  although  hardy  in  Minnesota,  may  be 
subject  to  blight  and  early  decay  in  a  more  southern  latitude. 
The  exhibit  of  new  varieties  of  fruit,  and  especially  of  apples,  at 
the  Exposition  may  do  much  to  secure,  after  necessary  time 
for  testing  has  elapsed,  many  varieties  heretofore  unknown 
that  will  be  of  great  value.  To  those  localities  which  have 
now  a  few  varieties  only  that  do  well,  this  fruit  exhibit  may 
prove  of  great  value  in  bringing  to  the  notice  of  fruit  growers 
many  new  kinds  which  if  placed  in  the  experiment  stations  of 


38 

the  State  Horticultural  Societies  will  prove  of  value  to  the 
people,  and  the  saving  of  much  valuable  time  and  money.  The 
Illinois  Society,  deeming  this  a  matter  of  great  importance,  ap- 
pointed committees  to  make  a  careful  examination  of  the  fruit 
during  the  Exposition  and  especially  of  all  new  varieties,  and 
will  at  an  early  day  place  in  their  experiment  stations,  of 
which  there  are  twelve,  such  new  varieties  as  give  promise  of 
being  valuable  that  they  may  be  tested  under  the  direction  of 
the  society.  The  information  gained  will  be  given  in  due  time 
to  the  people  of  the  State  through  the  horticultural  reports. 
To  the  end  that  the  adaptability  of  certain  varieties  might 
be  recommended  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  locality  intended, 
and  owing  to  the  great  length  of  the  state,  Illinois  had  been 
divided  into  three  horticultural  districts,  and  reference  will 
hereafter  be  made  to  them  as  the  Northern,  Central,  and 
Southern  districts.  A  map  has  been  inserted  in  this  volume, 
showing  the  division  of  the  State  into  fruit  districts  by  coun- 
ties, which  will  be  of  value  as  a  reference  map  to  those  who 
receive  this  report  and  are  interested  in  the  horticultural  de- 
velopment of  the  State. 

Illinois  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  production  of  fruit  as 
a  source  of  profit  to  the  grower,  and  commercial  fruit  growing 
is  becoming  a  matter  of  much  importance.  Your  attention 
is  invited  to  the  tables  of  statistics  in  the  last  pages  of  this  re- 
port, and  while  the  figures  are  of  necessity  very  incomplete, 
there  are  enough  to  show  the  importance  of  fruit  growing  in 
Illinois. 


THE  ILLINOIS  pRanr  EXHIBIT. 


1 1  THEN  the  Executive  Board  of  the  State  Horticultural  Society 
l/l^  organized  as  a  Board  of  Control  and  took  charge  of 
the  fruit  exhibit  of  Illinois*  in  the  National  Horticultural 
building  on  the  first  day  of  May,  they  found  that  they  had 
plenty  of  work  on  hand  to  get  the  tables  in  shape  and  to  se- 
cure sufficient  fruit  and  maintain  a  creditable  exhibit  to. the 
close  of  the  Exposition.  The  fruit  placed  in  cold  storage  the 
fall  before  by  the  Southern  and  Central  Horticultural  Socie- 
ties stood  them  in  good  stead,  for  with  this  large  amount  of 
fruit  they  were  enabled  with  the  small  fruits  which  soon  came 
to  hand  to  make  the  tables  look  very  inviting  indeed.  The 
amount  of  space  assigned  to  Illinois  was  1,622  square  feet. 

By  the  first  of  June  a  pavilion  had  been  built  forty  feet 
long  and  twelve  feet  in  depth.  Along  the  front  of  this  were 
glass-covered  refrigerators  for  the  exhibition  of  small  fruits 
and  similar  fruits  of  a  perishable  nature.  Back  of  the  re- 
frigerators and  above  the  same,  shelves  were  arranged  for 
fruit,  and  these  were  reinforced  by  large  mirrors  which  added 
very  much  to  the  appearance,  as  the  effect  was  to  practically 
double  the  show  of  fruit.  To  the  rear  of  the  mirrors  and  re- 
frigerators was  enclosed  a  room  about  six  by  thirty  feet,  where 
the  fruit  was  received,  unpacked,  and  prepared  for  exhibition. 
Stairs  led  up  to  a  balcony  on  top  of  the  pavilion,  and  here  vis- 
itors were  received,  and  a  desk  was  placed  for  the  use  of  the 
secretary.  Thirty-two  tons  of  ice  were  used  in  the  refriger- 
ators during  the  Exposition,  doing  away  with  the  necessity  of 
renewing  the  fruits  in  a  large  degree. 

In  addition  to  building  the  pavilion  a  new  table  was  built 
in  front  of  same,  six  by  thirty  feet,  with  the  shelves  and  center 
piece  covered  with  mirror  glass.  The  whole  surmounted  by 
an  ornamental  center-piece  ten  feet  in  height. 

The  balance  of  the  tables  were  also  fitted  up  with  mirrors, 
and  later  on  three  arches  were  thrown  over  the  longest  table 


40 

and  decorated  with  grapes.  Flowers  were  used  freely  during 
the  exhibit,  and  together  with  the  plants  added  very  much  to 
the  general  appearance  of  things.  The  table  immediately  in 
front  of  the  pavilion  was  used  in  making  a 


SPECIAL  EXHIBIT  OF  PEACHES 

from  July  20  to  September  15,  and  after  that  date  until 
the  close  of  the  Exposition  it  was  used  in  making  the  grape 
display.  The  pictures  of  these  special  displays  appear  in  the 
present  volume.  These  displays  attracted  marked  attention 
and  were  much  admired  by  the  general  public.  From  time  to 
time  alterations  were  made  in  the  exhibit  and  new  features 
added  in  order  to  give  variety,  so  that  the  exhibit  might  con- 
tinue to  be  attractive  to  visitors. 

The  State  of  Illinois  extends  through  six  degrees  of  lati- 
tude, and  this  fact  made  it  possible  to  continue  the  exhibit  of 
each  class  of  fruit  from  six  to  ten  weeks  in  each  instance. 
For  this  reason  our  exhibit  had  more  features  of  attraction  at 
any  given  time  than  that  of  any  other  state. 

As  soon  as  the  refrigerator  was  completed  and  arrange- 
ments made,  an  exhibit  of  small  fruits  was  begun  and  con- 
tinued through  the  season.  Unlike  other  states  (except  Cali- 
fornia) Illinois'  fruit  exhibit  was  continuous  from  the  opening 
of  the  Exposition  to  its  close,  with  the  tables  creditably  filled 
with  choice  fresh  fruits  at  all  times. 

COLD  STORAGE 

had  much  to  do  with  this,  and  it  will  be  well  to  say  a  few  words 
on  this  subject.  Apples  placed  in  storage  in  the  fall  of  1892 
came  out  of  same  in  excellent  condition  as  late  as  the  last  half 
of  October.  Jonathan,  Grimes'  Golden,  and  Northern  Spy 
were  on  exhibition  as  late  as  the  last  of  August,  as  bright  and 
fresh  as  when  picked  from  the  trees.  Our  experience  with  cold 
storage  the  past  summer  warrants  us  in  calling  the  especial 
attention  of  our  apple  growers  to  the  same,  for  we  are  of  the 
opinion  that  with  cold  storage  to  fall  back  upon,  the  apple 
business  need  never  be  overdone  in  this  State. 


41 

For  other  kinds  of  fruit  than  the  apple,  such  as  grapes,  pears, 
and  peaches,  it  cannot  be  said  that  they  took  so  kindly  to  cold 
storage, but  in  all  probability  if  the  temperature  were  not  kept 
at  such  a  low  degree  for  these  fruits  the  result  would  be  more 
satisfactory.  In  any  event  the  apple  can  be  placed  there  when 
properly  assorted  and  carefully  handled  without  doubt  of  satis- 
factory results,  provided  it  is  placed  with  responsible  parties 
who  understand  the  business.  Grapes  and  pears  lose  their 
flavor  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  depending  upon  the  variety, 
some  being  more  susceptible  than  others.  Peaches  after  being 
in  cold  storage  lose  their  flavor  almost  entirely. 

Keiffer  pears  placed  in  cold  storage  in  the  fall  of  1892 
were  removed  from  same  July  14,  1893,  perfect  in  color  and 
condition,  except  as  to  flavor.  Varieties,  such  as  Howell, 
Sheldon,  Duchess,  Seckel,  Keiffer,  and  D'Anjou  were  kept  sev- 
eral months  with  the  flavor  but  slightly  impaired — the  Duchess 
and  Keiffer  keeping  the  best.  Bartlett  and  LeConte  we  had 
very  poor  success  with.  This  matter  of  cold  storage  we  deem 
of  importance  to  the  orchardist.  It  is  destined  to  become  a 
necessity  with  the  Illinois  orchardist  who  raises  first-class 
fruit. 


L?ISr  OF  VARIETIES    EXHIBITED  AND  N0TES 
THERE0N. 


STRAWBERRIES. 

Beder  Wood,  Great  Pacific,  Princeton  Chief, 

Bubach,  Gandy,  Piper  Seedling, 

Capt.  Jack,  Haviland,  Riehl's  No.  6, 

Crescent,  Jessie,  Sucker  State, 

Curtis'  No.  1,  Parker  Earle,  Sharpless, 

Dan  Bissel,  Lovett's  Early,  Wayman's  No.  1, 

Edgar  Queen,  Monarch,  Wolverton, 

Enhance,  Minor,  Warfield. 

Eureka,  Oregon  Everbearing, 

Number  of  shipments  received 84 

"  quarts  received 865 

"  varieties  exhibited 26 

Varieties  from  Northern  District 16 

"  "     Central  District 3 

"      Southern  District 15 


42 

The  first  shipments  of  strawberries  came  from  Cobden, 
and  were  received  May  20;  the  last  shipment,  G-andy,  from 
Mount  Morris,  July  4.  Largest  number  of  shipments  were  of 
the  Bubach,  Warfield,  and  G-andy  varieties  in  the  order  named. 
A  peculiar  fact  was  that  only  one  shipment  was  received  of 
the  Crescent  and  none  of  the  old  time  Wilson. 

RASPBERRIES. 

Brandywine,  Kansas,                               Shaffer's  Colossal, 

Cuthbert,  Muskingum,                       Souhegan, 

Crimson  Cluster,           Marlboro,  Tyler, 

Golden  Queen,  Ohio,                                    Thwack, 

Golden  Alaska,  Older's  Seedling,               Turner, 

Gregg,  Palmer,                                Winona. 

Johnson  Sweet,  Royal  Church, 

Number  of  shipments  received 122 

"  quarts  received 752 

"  varieties  exhibited .....    20 

"  from  Northern  District 14 

"  "         from  Central  District 7 

"  "         from  Southern  District 12 

First  appearance  June  13,  from  Centralia;  the  last  from 
Freeport,  July  22.  Largest  number  of  shipments  in  order 
named  were  of  the  Brandywine,  Gregg,  Golden  Queen,  Shaffer, 
Cuthbert,  and  Winona. 

BLACKBERRIES. 

Ancient  Britain,  Kittatiny,  Native, 

Erie,  Lawton,  Snyder, 

Early  Harvest,  Lawton,  Jr.,  Stone's  Hardy. 

Number  of  shipments  received 80 

"            quarts  received 921 

' '            varieties  exhibited 9 

"        from  Northern  District 2 

"                    "        from  Central  District 3 

"        from  Southern  District 7 

The  Early  Harvest  variety  was  received  June  19,  from 
Centralia;  and  the  last  shipment  of  Ancient  Britain  from  Free- 
port,  August  24.  Shipments  of  Early  Harvest  and  Lawton 
were  confined  entirely  to  Southern,  those  of  Stone's  Hardy  to 
Central,  and  those  of  Ancient  Britain  to  Northern  Illinois. 


45 

DEWBERRIES. 
Lucretia. 

Number  of  shipments  received 10 

"  quarts  received 120 

There  were  unusually  fine,  and  came  largely    from  Cen- 
tralia. 

CHERRIES. 

Early  Richmond,          Late  Richmond,  Wragg. 

Dyehouse,  Montmorency, 

Number  of  shipments ...  15 

"            quarts  received 172 

varieties  exhibited 5 

'•                    "        from  Northern  District 1 

"                    "        from  Central  District  2 

"                    "        from  Southern  District 4 

Cherries  were  first  received  on  June  2,  and  came  from 
Villa  Ridge;  the  last  shipment,  July  4. 

CURRANTS. 

Crandall,  North  Star,  Victoria, 

Cherry,  Prince  Albert,  White  Dutch, 

Fay's  Prolific,  Ruby  Castle,  White  Grape. 

Longbunched  Holland,  Red  Dutch, 

Number  of  shipments  received 50 

"  quarts  exhibited 325 

"  varieties  exhibited 11 

"        from  Northern  District 9 

"        from  Central  District 1 

"        from  Southern  District 2 

Currants  came  first  from  Centralia,  and  were  placed  on 
exhibition  June  13;  the  last  shipment  arrived  July  22,  from 
Freeport. 

GOOSEBERRIES. 

Champion.  Grawburg  Superior,         Puyallup, 

Downing,  Houghton,  Pale  Red, 

Early  Golden,  Industry,  Triumph. 

Early  Orange,  Mountain  Seedling, 

Number  of  shipments  received 19 

"  quarts  received 146 

"  varieties  exhibited 11 

"  "        Northern  District 5 

"  "        Central  District 2 

"        Southern  District 5 

—4 


46 

Gooseberries  were  first  sent  in  by  the  Marion  County  Hor- 
ticultural Society,  on  June  4;  the  last  shipment  came  from  Du- 
Page  county,  July  15.  The  Downing  and  Houghton  seem  to 
be  the  most  generally  planted. 

PERSIMMONS. 
Early  Golden,  Native  Wild. 

Number  of  shipments 10 

"  quarts  received 200 

"  varieties  exhibited 2 

Attention  is  directed  to  this  fruit  under  the  head  of  Gen- 
eral Remarks. 

PAWPAWS. 

Number  of  shipments  received 5 

"  baskets  received 12 

QUINCES. 

Orange,  Pear,  Rea. 

Number  of  shipments  received ....  27 

"  peck  baskets  received 105 

"  varieties  exhibited 3 

Varieties  from  Northern  District 0 

"  "  Central  District 2 

"  "  Southern  District 3 

The  crop  of  quinces  was  a  good  one  and  many  fine  speci- 
mens were  received. 

PLUMS. 

Botan,  Miner,  Sloe, 

Damson,  Marianna,  Wild  Goose, 

Forest  Rose,  Neverfail,  Yellow  Chickasaw, 

Green  Gage,  Ogan,  Yellow  Gage. 

Lombard,  Robinson, 

Number  of  shipments 43 

"  quarts  on  exhibition 481 

' '  varieties  on  exhibition 17 

Varieties  from  Northern  District 4 

"  "       Central  District 4 

"  "       Southern  District 12 

Plums  constituted  no  small  part  of  the  display  and  came 
from  all  sections,  although  much  the  largest  number  of  ship- 
ments came  from  the  south  end  of  the  State.  The  first  ship- 
ment arrived  July  3. 


47 

PEACHES. 

Amelia,                          Family  Favorite, 

Nanticoke, 

Amsden,                         Fox's  Seedling, 

Old  Mixon  Free, 

Alexander,                     George  IV, 

Old  Mixon  Cling, 

Almond  Cling,               Gen.  Lee, 

Park's  Cling, 

Bird's  Beauty,              Globe, 

Picquet's  Late, 

Burr's  Smock,               Gov.  Garland, 

Red  River, 

Bequet,                         Hyatt, 

Reave's  Favorite, 

Burrows,                        Honest  John, 

Red  Rareripe, 

Champion,                     Hyslop, 

Red  Heath, 

Christiana,                     Heath  Cling, 

Ringold, 

Catherine  (cling),        Heath  Free, 

Stevens'  Rareripe, 

Cabin,                             Jenny  Lind, 

Stickler  Cling, 

Compton's  Pure  Gold,  Jersey  Mixon, 

Smock, 

Chinese  Cling,              Lock's  Late, 

Silver  Medal, 

Chair's  Choice,              Late  Admirable, 

Stump, 

Crawford  Seedling,      Lemon  Cling, 

Terrel, 

"        Late,             Lillian, 

Thurber, 

"        Early,           May  Beauty, 

Troth's  Early, 

Early  Harvest,             Mamie  Ross, 

Talbot's  Seedling, 

"      York,                   Mountain  Rose, 

Texas  Ranger, 

"     Tillotson,             My  Choice, 

Ward's  Late, 

"      Barnard,             Missouri  Mammoth, 

Wheatland, 

Ede,                                Miss  Brett, 

Yellow  Globe, 

Elberta,                         Magnum  Bonum, 

Yellow  Stump. 

Fleet  St.  John,             Mammoth  Golden, 

Number  of  shipments  received  

3 

"             packages,  1,145;  reduced  to 

bushels  3 

"              varieties  exhibited  

Varieties  from  Northern  District  

"            "      Central  District  

"            "      Southern  District.  . 

75 
0 
5 

74 

Peaches  were  on  the  table  from  the  20th  of  June  to  the 
close  of  the  Exposition.  The  Alexander  and  Amsden  varieties 
were  the  earliest  shown.  For  length  of  time  on  exhibition, 
largest  display,  and  quality  of  fruit,  Illinois  had  reason  to  be 
proud  of  her  peach  display.  The  largest  number  of  ship- 
ments were  made  of  the  following  named  varieties  in  the  order 
mentioned,  viz. :  Thurber,  Late  Crawford,  Ede,  Old  Mixon, 
Elberta,  Early  Crawford,  Stump,  Smock,  Mountain  Rose,  and 
Troth's  Early.  No  peaches  were  sent  in  from  the  Northern 
District,  and  but  few  varieties  from  the  central  part  of  the 
State. 


48 


Beurre  Gifford, 
"       D'Anjou, 
"       Clairgeau, 
"       Superfine. 
"       Gaubault, 

Diel, 
"       Bosc, 

Bloodgood, 

Bartlett, 

Brandywine, 

Belle  Lucrative. 

Buffam, 

Bessamanka, 

Clapp's  Favorite, 

Cooper's  Early, 

Duchess, 


PEARS. 

Doyenne  Boussack, 

Due  d'Brabant, 

Due  d'Bordeaux, 

Early  Harvest, 

Everlasting, 

Edmunds, 

Frederick  Clapp, 

Flemish  Beauty, 

Garber 

Harvest  Belle, 

Howell, 

Horn's  Seedling, 

Japan  Golden  Russet 

Koonce, 

Keiffer, 


Lawrence, 

Longworth  No.  1, 

Louise  B.  de  Jersey, 

Le  Conte. 

Mikado, 

Onondaga, 

Richardson, 

Summer  Doyenne, 

Summer  Belle, 

Seckel, 

Sheldon, 

St.  Germain, 

Tyson, 

Winter  Nellis, 

White  Doyenne. 


CROP  OP   1892. 

Variety,  Keiffer,  Central  District,  5  bushels;  Southern 
District,  1  bushel;  placed  in  cold  storage  September  1892,  ex- 
hibited July,  1898. 


CROP  OF  1893. 

Number  of  shipments  received 385 

"  bushels  received 371 

"  varieties  exhibited 44 

Varieties  from  Northern  District 2 

"  "  Central  District 8 

"  "  Southern  District 35 

Pears  were  a  fair  exhibit  and  very  creditable  to  the  State. 
In  the  extreme  southern  portion  the  fruit  was  more  or  less 
covered  with  a  seeming  mould  or  fungus  growth  which  was  no 
doubt  due  to  the  unfavorable  spring.  The  smoothest  speci- 
mens came  from  Madison  county.  The  first  shipment  coming 
from  Centralia,  was  received  July  3,  and  were  of  the  Early 
Harvest  variety.  Varieties  of  which  the  largest  number 
of  shipments  were  received  are:  Bartlett,  Howell,  Duchess, 
Seckel,  Sheldon,  D'Anjou,  and  Le  Conte,  in  order  named. 


49 


Baldwin, 
Ben  Davis, 
Belleflower, 
Domine, 
Gilpin, 

Golden  Russet, 
Grimes'  Golden, 


Am.  Golden  Russet, 

Am.  Som.  Pearmain, 

Autumn  Swaar, 

Baldwin, 

Belleflower, 

Ben  Davis, 

Benoni, 

Brown's  Beauty, 

Cranberry  Pippin, 

Grain's  Spice, 

Cornell's  Fancy, 

Colvert, 

Chronicle, 

Cache. 

Dyer, 

Duchess  of  Oldb'g, 

Early  Harvest, 

Egyptian  Queen, 

Fall  Pippin, 

Fourth  of  July, 


APPLES. 

Fruit  grown  in  1892. 
Jonathan, 
King  of  Tomp's  Co., 
Northern  Spy, 
Rawles'  Janet 
Rome  Beauty, 
Stark, 
Shackelford, 


Snow, 

Talman's  Sweet, 
Wealthy, 
Willow, 
Wolf  River, 
Wiley  Sweet, 
Winesap. 


APPLES,    CROP    OF    1893. 

Fink, 

Grimes'  Golden, 
Gloria  Mundi, 
Golden  Sweet, 
Golden  Russet, 
Hocking, 
Jonathan, 
Lady  Sweet, 
Limber  Twig, 
Lowell, 
Lawver, 
Maiden's  Blush, 
Melon, 
Mother, 
Northern  Spy, 
Pewaukee, 
Penn.  Redstreak, 
Pennock, 
Pound  Sweet, 
Rome  Beauty. 

CROP   OP   1892. 


R.  Island  Greening, 
Red  Astrachan, 
Roxbury  Russet, 
Red  Win.  Pearmain, 
Rawles'  Janet, 
Royal  Red, 
Red  Beitiogheimer, 
Red  June, 
Sheepnose, 
St.  Lawrence, 
Smith's  Cider, 
Summer  King, 
Shockley, 
Twenty  Ounce, 
Thompson's  Sweet, 
W.  W.  Pearmain, 
Winesap, 
Winter  May, 
Yellow  Transparent. 


Placed    in    cold  stor-age,  fall   of  1892,  by  the  Horticultural 
Society  of  Central  Illinois,  varieties,  11;  amount,  barrels. 21 

By  the  Horticultural  Society  of  Southern  Illinois,  varieties, 

15;  barrels 67 

Total  number  of  varieties 21 

bushels 264 

CROP  OP  1893. 

Total  number  shipments  received 158 

"          "        bushels  received 212 

"           "        varieties  exhibited 71 

Varieties  from  Northern  District 11 

"      Central  District 7 

"            "      Southern  District.  .  47 


50 


Apples  of  1893  first  came  in  on  June  20,  and  were  of  the 
Red  Astrachan  variety.  From  that  time  until  the  close  of  the 
Fair  the  apple  exhibit  was  continuously  upon  the  tables  and 
with  the  assistance  of  cold  storage,  Duchess  and  Red  Astra- 
chan were  shown  as  late  as  the  31st  of  October.  Of  course  the 
apple  exhibit  was  nothing  compared  to  what  it  would  have 
been  had  there  been  an  apple  crop,  but  the  committee  did 
its  best  to  make  it  as  good  as  could  be  made  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, and  many  from  this  State  who  were  familiar  with 
existing  facts  expressed  themselves  as  well  pleased  with  the 
exhibit  and  surprised  that  it  was  so  good  as  it  was. 


CRAB    APPLES. 


Montreal  Beauty, 
Siberian,  large  red, 


Gen.  Grant, 
Golden  Beauty, 
Hyslop, 

Number  of  shipments  received. . . 
"  peck  baskets  received 

"  varieties  exhibited. .. 

Varieties  from  Northern  District, 
"  "    Central  District. .. 

"  "     Southern  District. 


Transcendent, 
Whitney's  No.  20. 


21 
25 

7 
5 


Amber  Queen, 

Aminia, 

Ameins, 

Amber, 

Albert, 

Agawatn, 

Ann  Arbor, 

Arkansas, 

Alfonse, 

Barry, 

Black  Eagle, 

Bacchus, 

Brighton, 

Beauty, 

Black  Oriental, 

Belvidere, 

Brilliant, 

Berckman's, 

Concord, 


GRAPES. 

Crevelling, 

Champion, 

Cottage, 

Catawba, 

Cynthiana, 

Cambridge, 

Centennial, 

Challenge, 

Conqueror, 

Clinton, 

Cunningham, 

Dr.  Wiley, 

Duchess, 

Delaware, 

Daisy, 

Diana, 

Early  Victor, 

Empire  State, 

Eldorado, 


Elvira, 

Early  Market, 

Eschlemans'  No.  9, 

Eschlemans'  No.  15, 

Eschlemans' No.  19, 

Eschlraans'  No.  26, 

Etta, 

Eumalan, 

Excelsior, 

Findley, 

Gar  Frier, 

Goethe, 

Golden  Queen, 

Gaertner, 

Gold  Coin, 

Grein's  Golden, 

Herbert, 

Hartford, 

Hermann, 


51 


Herman  Jaeger, 

Hero, 

Highland, 

Hagar, 

Hayes,  R.  B., 

Ida, 

Ives, 

Ironclad, 

lona, 

Ideal, 

Isabella, 

Jewell, 

Jewell  Seedling, 

Jessie, 

Jefferson, 

Janesville, 

Lindley, 

Lady  Washington, 

Lady, 

Lightfoot, 

Mildred, 

Merrimac, 

Moore's  Diamond, 

Moore's  Early, 


Martha, 

Marsala, 

Marion, 

Mo.  Reisling, 

Muscadine, 

Marsailles, 

Moyer, 

Marguerite, 

Montefiore, 

Massasoit, 

Mills, 

Mason, 

Naomi, 

Niagara, 

Norfolk, 

Norwood, 

Norton's  Virginia, 

Noah, 

Oporto, 

Oriental, 

Perkins, 

Progress, 

Pearl, 

Prairie  State, 


Pocklington, 

Purity, 

Peter  Wiley, 

Rogers'  No.  5, 

Rogers'  No.  8, 

Rogers'  No.  28, 

Requa. 

Senasqua, 

Salem, 

Stayman's  No.  19, 

Triumph, 

Uhland, 

Ulster  Prolific, 

Vitus  Vinifera  No.  1. 

Vitus  Vinifera  No.  2. 

Vergennes, 

Worden, 

Woodruff  Red, 

Wyoming  Red, 

Wilder, 

Waverly, 

Wild. 


Number  of  shipments  received 739 

"            packages  received,  1,393;  reduced  to  pounds.. 13, 930 
"  varieties  exhibited 128 

Grapes  were  fine  in  quality,  although  the  bunches  would 
have  averaged  larger  if  the  season  had  not  been  so  dry.  A 
most  excellent  display  was  made  from  every  district  in  the 
State.  The  samples  sent  from  Kankakee,  Madison,  Hancock, 
and  Pulaski  counties  deserve  special  mention  on  account  of 
their  fine  quality.  Those  from  Kankakee  county  were  grown 
upon  sand  hills  which  were  no  doubt  at  one  time  the  shores  of 
a  lake.  The  first  shipment  came  to  hand  July  19  and  were  of 
the  Tves  variety.  From  that  time  forward  the  exhibit  was 
continuous  and  was  especially  noticeable  during  August,  Sep- 
tember, and  October.  The  largest  number  of  shipments  made 
were  of  the  following  varieties  in  the  order  stated,  viz. :  Con- 
cord, Ives,  Norton's  Virginia,  Perkins,  Catawba,  Worden, 
Delaware,  and  Wilder.  The  N.  Virginia,  Delaware,  and  Her- 
mann were  very  fine  and  came  mostly  from  Kankakee  county. 


52 


FRUITS  AND  NUTS 

Of  ornamental  and  wild  trees  and  plants  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  exhib- 
ited during  the  Exposition. 


Wild  Plum, 
Burr  Oak, 

Shellbark  (hickory), 
Lilac, 

Silver  Bell, 
Persimmon, 
Mag.  thompsonii, 
Quercus  alba, 
Carya  amara, 
Tilia, 

Halesia  tetreptera, 
Wisteria  f rutescans, 
European  Mt.  Ash, 
Scotch  Pine, 
English  Alder, 
Virginia  Creeper, 
Acer  negundo, 
Acer  platanoides, 
Abies  excelsa, 
Pinus  sylvestrus, 
Alnus  glutinasa, 
Ptelia  trifoliata, 


Celastrus  scandeus, 
Humulus  lupulus, 
Berbaris  vulgares. 
Black  Cherry, 
Norway  Maple, 
Catalpa    bignanoides 

(common  catalpa), 
Norway  Spruce, 
Red  Cedar, 
Hazelnut, 
Carnus  paniculata, 


American  Arborvitae 
Wild  Grape, 
Prunus  seritina, 
Acer  dasycarpum 
Wistaria, 
Juglans  nigra, 
Pinus  strobus, 
Thugi  occidentalism 
Vitis  riparia, 
White  Oak, 
Thorn, 


Acer  saccharinum(sugar  Wild  Rose, 


maple), 

Carya  specieosae. 
Larix  europa, 
Juniperus  virginiana. 
Corylus  americana, 


Black  Haw, 
Mag.  glouca, 
Crategus, 
Carya  alba, 
Syringa, 


Ampelopsis  qunquefolia,  ^Esculus  ohiense, 


Walnut, 

Bitternut  (hickory), 

Elderberry, 

Hops, 


Quercus  macrocarpa,  Honey  Locust, 


Butternut, 

Red  Oak, 

Bitter  Sweet, 

Basswood, 

Barberry, 

Magnolia  soulan- 

geana, 
Juglans  cinera, 


Mag.  acuminata, 
Quercus  rubra, 
Sanbucus  canadensis, 
Viburnum  prunifol'm, 
Gleditschia  triacanthus, 
Hemlock, 
Catalpa  specieosae, 
European  Larch, 


Sumach, 

Camel, 

Anona  triloba, 

Buckeye, 

White  Pine, 

Diospyros  virginiara 

Osage  Orange, 

Hop  Tree, 

Rhus  glabra, 

Pyrus  aucuparia, 

Madura  aurantiaca. 


Total  number  of  varieties  exhibited,  90. 
VARIETIES    OF  FRUITS    BY   DISTRICTS. 


Northern.  Central.  Southern.  Total. 


Crab  Apples 

Pears 

Peaches 

Grapes 

Strawberries 


5 

2 

0 

33 

16 


Raspberries 14 

Blackberries. 
Dewberries. . 
Currants  .... 
Gooseberries. 
Cherries  . . . 

Plums 

Persimmons. 
Quinces.. 


2 
1 
9 

5 
1 
4 
1 

0 
Apples 11 


5 

73 
3 

1 
3 
1 
1 
2 

2 
4 
0 
2 

18 


7 

35 

74 

TOO 

15 

12 

7 

1 

2 

5 

4 

12 

2 

3 

62 


7 

46 

75 

128 

26 

20 

9 

1 

11 

11 

5 

14 

2 

3 

71 


104 


131 


341 


429 


53 


12IST  OF 
AVARBS  MABE  TO  ILLINOIS 

AT    TIIK 

WORLD'S  COLOMBIAN  EXPOSITION 

GHIGAG6,  1593. 


TO  THE  STATE  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

For  collection  of  pears. 

For  collection  of  grapes. 

For  collection  of  peaches  and  plums. 

For  collection  of  apples  of  the  growth  of  the  year  1893. 

For  continuous  display  of  small  fruit  during  the  season. 

TO  THE  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY  OF  CENTRAL  ILLINOIS. 
For  collection  of  apples  of  the  growth  of  the  year  1892. 

TO  THE  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY  OF  SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS. 
For  collection  of  apples  of  the  growth  of  the  year  1892. 


LIST  OF  EXHIBITORS   OF   FRttlT   IN    THE   ILLINOIS 
EXHIBIT,  WORLD'S  FAIR,  BY  DISTRICTS. 


Appended  is  a  list  of  the  exhibitors  of  fruit  and  counties 
represented  from  the  several  districts  of  the  State.  It  will  be 
noticed  that  48  counties  out  of  a  possible  102  made  shipments 
to  the  exhibit,  showing  that  a  large  portion  of  the  State  was 
represented. 

NORTHERN  DISTRICT. 

Princeton,  Bureau  county — J.  G.  Bubach,  L.  R.  Bryant, 
Arthur  Bryant,  N.  P.  Colberg,  F.  W.  Poscharsky  &  Son,  J.  A. 
Walstrom. 


54 

Downers  Grove,  Du  Page  county — A.  B.  Austin. 
Dixon,    Lee   county — J.     L.     Hartwell,     J.    Lewis,     John 
Moyer,  Daniel  Siebert. 

Forreston,  Lee  county — J.  H.  Ascherman. 
Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  county — A.  W.  Brayton. 
Freeport,  Stephenson  county — H.  R.  Cotta. 
Naperville,  Du  Page  county — Phil.  Strubler. 
Tiskilwa,  Bureau  county — S.   C.  Soverhill. 
Marengo,  McHenry  county — Dr.  D.  E.  Peck. 
Carbon  Cliff,  Rock  Island  county — Eli  Corbin. 
Mt.  Carroll,  Carroll  county — Jacob  Christian. 
St.  Anne,  Kankakee  county — P.  A.  Bonvallet. 
Oswego,  Kendall  county — S.  G.  Minkler. 
North  Harvey,  Cook  county — A.  H.  Gas  ton. 


CENTRAL  DISTRICT:. 

Bourbon,  Douglas  county — H.  A.  Compton. 

Champaign,  Champaign  county — G.  W.  McCluer,  Univer- 
sity of  Illinois. 

Deer  Plain,  Calhoun  county — Jacob  Auer. 

Farmingdale,  Sangamon  county — Benjamin  Buckman. 

Griggsville,  Pike  county — Mrs.  Anderson,  George  Evans, 
W.  E.  Jones,  John  Newman,  Thomas  Phillips,  William 
Reynolds,  Jeff.  Smith,  Chas.  G.  Winn. 

Hamburg,  Calhoun  county — William  Barber. 

Hamilton,  Hancock  county — Chas.  Dadant  &  Son. 

Jacksonville  Morgan  county —  M.  Baldwin,  H.  L.  Doan, 
A.  L.  Hay. 

Mt.  Gilead,  —         — John  Menott. 

Normal,  McLean  county — Henry  Augustine. 

Oconee,  Shelby  county — E.  Bass,  B.  G.  Sloan. 

Onarga,  Iroquois  county — H.  H.  Clark. 

Savoy,  Champaign  county — H.  M.  Dunlap. 

Waverly,  Morgan  county — H.  M.  Miller. 

Warsaw,  Hancock  county — E.  J.  Alberg,  C.  Bott,  T.  J. 
Blake,  John  Bonnefon,  George  Cress,  A.  Dross,  E.  Gumble,  J. 
T.  Johnson,  J.  Lamet,  J.  A.  McKee,  Aug.  Pierrot,  H.  R. 
Peterson,  Phil.  Roth,  A.  H.  Worthen. 


55 

SOUTHERN  DISTRICT. 

Alton,  Madison  county — J.  S.  Browne,  Fred  Hayden,  E. 
Hollister,  H.  G.  McPike,  E.  A.  Riehl,  Jacob  Smith,  Frank 
Hoffmeister. 

Anna,  Union  county — E.  C.  English,  J.  W.  Fuller, 
Thomas  Hunt,  Henry  Hileman,  H.  J.  Hileman,  J.  E.  Lupkin, 
Mrs.  H.  M  Sanborn,  J.  E.  Tupton,  B.  L.  Walker. 

America,  Pulaski  county — F.  E.  Hogg,  W.  Krostinger,  H. 
Neistraff,  Mrs.  Mary  Steers,  H.  Wesenburg. 

Aikin,  Franklin  county — J.  W.  Kraft. 

Carbondale,  Jackson  county — T.  W.  Thompson,  M.  M. 
Thompson. 

Collinsville,  St.  Glair  county — L.  Henke. 

Centralia,  Marion  county — Besant  Bros.,  William  Bier- 
man,  John  Betts,  C.  A.  Combs,  E.  S.  Condit,  A.  Doodelitt, 
Mrs.  Dickerson,  fl".  S.  Fitzgerald,  R.  G.  Fowler,  Fisher  Bros., 
S.  C.  Garrison,  A.  M.  Johnson,  William  Kent,  F.  Kohl,  Henry 
Kurth,  Frank  Klein,  C.  D.  Kelly,  Leron  Larch,  F.  P.  Miller, 
G.  H.  Perrine  &  Son,  J.  W.  Shipworth,  Mary  Stensey,  W.  W. 
Scott,  Lela  Scott,  C.  E.  Townsend  &  Son,  James  Wade,  C.  H. 
Webster,  A.  W.  Webster,  John  Kinsey,  John  Kinsey  Jr.,  R. 
D.  Oxley,  Jabez  Webster. 

Cobden,  Union  county— G.  W.  Clark,  E.  N.  Clark,  Thomas 
Dubois,  T.  E.  Goodrich,  I.  G.  Goodrich,  Lamar  Bros. 

Cairo,  Alexander  county — Mrs.  W.  P.  Gilbert,  Mrs.  C.  F. 
Gallagher,  W.  P.  Halliday,  Mrs.  Charles  Pink,  Mrs.  W.  Rit- 
tenhouse,  C.  E.  Tuttle. 

Carmi,  White  county — Daniel  Berry. 

Dix,  Jefferson  county — B.  F.  Wimberly. 

Eppworth,  Wayne  county — J.  R.  Pomeroy. 

Eldorado,  Saline  county — G.  Martin. 

Fairman,  Marion  county — C.  P.  Harker. 

Fairfield,  Wayne  county — John  Berg,  F.  B.  Bronson, 
George  B.  Carter,  Nathan  Sidwell,  Oliver  Holmes. 

Farina,  Fayette  county — J.  R.  Dunham. 

Godfrey,  Madison  county — James  Davis,  William  Hynd- 
man,  J.  M.  Pearson. 

Huey,  Clinton  county — R.  W.  Neil. 

Jonesboro, Union  county — Chester  Atwood,D.  W.Karriker. 


56 

Joppa,  Massac  county — A.  R.  Parker,  Burton  Sexton, 
Frank  Tupper. 

Kinmundy,  Marion  county — E.  G.  Mendenhall,  Thomas 
Thompson. 

Makanda,  Jackson  county — W.  H.  Brandon,  J.  B.  Rob- 
erts, E.  T.  S.  Lieb,  J.  S.  Shepherd,  J.  S.  &  J.  E.  Springer, 
B.  L.  Wiley. 

Mt.  Erie,  Wayne  county — J.  J.    Carson. 

Mill  Creek,  Johason  county — J.  H.  Poole. 

Mt.   Vernon,  Jefferson  county — George  W.  Evans. 

Metropolis,  Massac  county — Mrs.  C.  E.  Cutting,  A.  M. 
Dean,  A.  Davidson,  C.  A.  Duncan,  D.  H.  Freeman,  Mrs.  Chas. 
Horst,  A.  M.  Kennedy,  J.  Peck,  W.  K.  Peters,  D.  Risinger. 
James  D.  Storey,  B.  Sexton. 

Neoga,  Cumberland  county — H.  Aldrich,  M.  S.  Wallace, 
J.  T.  Wallace. 

Nokomis,  Montgomery  county — I.  G.  Hubbard. 

New  Burnside,  Johnson  county — W.  J.  Casper,  Thomas 
F.  McCabe,  F.  M.  Wright. 

Sandoval,  Marion  county — W.  J.  Stiles. 

Tonti,  Marion  county — A.  Cope  &  Son,  B.  W.  Gruendike. 

Upper  Alton,  Madison  county — Jacob  Smith. 

Villa  Ridge,  Pulaski  county — E.  J.  Ayers,  W.  W.  Ather- 
ton,  James  Bayhill,  William  Cain,  L.  F.  Grain,  G.  W.  Endi- 
cott,  C.  O.  Forsythe,  Galbraith  Bros.,  G.  H.  Graves,  Thomas 
Hasler,  W.  E.  Harrington,  H.  Hogendobler,  T.  W.  Haines, 
M.  L.  Hillman,  H.  Johnson,  P.  H.  Krohl,  J.  H.  Kinker,  E.  B. 
Kennedy,  D.  B.  Kennedy,  Dwight  Lewis,  JohuLimbert,  W.  P. 
Minnich,  A.  Pollock,  William  Parker,  B.  A.  Royal,  Roach  Bros., 
Mrs.  S.  Silver,  R.  Wellson,  Geo.  Gould  &  Sons,  L.  Redden. 

Walnut  Hills,  Marion  county — E.  F.  Carpenter. 

Fairfield,  Wayne  county — Oliver  Holmes. 

Centralia,  Marion  county — R.  D    Oxley,  J.  Kinsey,  Sr. 


EXHIBITORS  OF  NEW  FRUITS. 

GEORGE  GOULD  &  SONS,  Villa  Ridge. — Exhibited  the 
Koonce  pear,  which  was  pronounced  by  competent  judges  to 
be  of  good  quality,  and  can  surely  be  recommended  for  trial. 


c 

70 


59 

I.  G.  HUBBARD,  Nokomis,  are  the  originators  of  the 
Champion  peach,  specimens  of  which  they  sent  to  the  exhibit. 
They  were  among  the  largest  received,  and  of  excellent  qual- 
ity. The  pit  is  small,  compared  with  the  size  of  the  peach, 
and  the  flesh  is  therefore  very  deep.  Worthy  of  trial. 

J.  G.  BUBACH,  Princeton. — Exhibited  some  fine  specimens 
of  the  Curtis  strawberry. 

A.  H.  G-ASTON,  of  North  Harvey. — The  Grawburg  Super- 
ior gooseberry.  Berry  of  large  size. 

H.  AUGUSTINE,  Normal. — The  Hero  and  other  grapes. 

JAMES  T.  JOHNSON,  Warsaw. — The  Neverfail  plum;  said  to 
bear  good  crops  with  scarcely  a  failure.  Originated  in  Han- 
cock county. 

C.  H.  WEBSTER,  Centralia. — The  Lawton,  Jr.,  blackberry. 

E.  A.  RIEHL,  Alton. — The  Early  Golden  persimmon,  which 
attracted  a  great  deal  of  attention,  and  was  highly  commended 
by  all  as  a  valuable  new  fruit.  Ripens  before  frost.  Origi- 
nated near  Alton. 

JACOB  CHRISTIAN,  Mt.  Carroll. — The  Prairie  State  grape. 
A  white  grape  of  good  quality. 

GENERAL  REMARKS. 

The  Illinois  fruit  exhibit  demonstrated  to  the  careful  ob- 
server that  the  State  is  adapted  to  a  very  wide  range  of  fruit 
products,  and  that,  owing  to  the  extreme  length  of  the  State 
north  and  south,  the  season  of  fresh  fruits  in  the  markets,  of 
any  given  kind,  is  very  long,  insuring  to  the  inhabitant  of  the 
State  a  choice  of  green  fruits  of  many  kinds  during  a  pro- 
longed season.  While  other  states  showed,  in  some  instances, 
larger  specimens  of  fruit  of  certain  kinds,  none  could  be  said 
to  surpass  those  of  Illinois  in  quality.  No  farmer  in  the  State 
of  Illinois  need  be  without  small  fruits  in  his  garden  who 
makes  a  fair  use  of  his  opportunities,  as  small  fruits  will  grow 
and  produce  abundantly  in  every  section  of  the  State. 

Peaches  for  market  are  confined  to  the  south  half  of  the 
State,  as  a  rule,  but  often  good  crops  are  bad  north  of  that  line. 

Persimmons  grown  as  far  north  as  Bureau  county,  and  ex- 
hibited at  the  Fair,  demonstrated  that  that  excellent  fruit  will 
grow  much  farther  north  than  was  supposed  possible.  The  va- 


60 

riety  "Early  Golden"  persimmon,  from  the  vicinity  of  Alton, 
ripens  before  frost  and  is  certainly  destined  to  become  a  fa- 
vorite market  fruit.  Horticulturists  in  the  south  half  of  the 
State  should  give  this  excellent  fruit  their  attention  with  a 
view  of  supplying  the  market  with  the  same,  for  undoubtedly 
there  is  a  promising  future  for  it.  Let  us  not  make  the  mis- 
take of  chasing  after  foreign  fruits  of  poor  quality  to  the  neg- 
lect of  our  own  native  fruits  of  superior  merit.  Not  many 
years  ago  bananas  were  as  scarce  in  the  markets  as  are  per- 
simmons today. 

Pawpaws,  which  grow  wild  in  Central  and  Southern  Illi- 
nois, were  by  many  visitors  who  tasted  them  considered  very 
fine,  and  wonder  was  expressed  that  they  were  not  to  be  had 
in  the  markets. 

In  conclusion,  it  can  be  truthfully  said  that  the  exhibit  of 
Illinois  fruits  at  the  Fair  attracted  the  attention  of  interested 
people  from  this  and  foreign  countries,  and  the  good  results, 
while  they  cannot  be  figured  up  today  in  dollars  and  cents,  yet 
it  is  unquestionably  true  that  the  exhibit  will  be  worth  to  the 
State  many  times  its  cost,  and  it  would  have  been  very  unfor- 
tunate indeed  had  it  not  been  made.  Its  benefits  will  be  seen 
in  the  increased  demand  for  Illinois  fruits,  especially  of  apples, 
both  in  our  domestic  and  foreign  markets.  Many  times  was 
the  remark  made  that  the  observer  was  not  before  aware  that 
Illinois  was  such  a  great  fruit  state,  and  this  shows  that  the 
exhibit  made  a  lasting  impression  upon  the  mind  of  the  visitor. 
We  do  not  doubt  but  that  many  will  be  induced  to  buy  fruit 
lands  that  never  would  have  thought  of  it  except  for  this 
exhibit;  and  many,  now  citizens  of  the  State,  convinced  that 
fruit  growing  can  be  made  profitable,  will  engage  in  the  same. 
But  outside  of  the  pecuniary  benefit  to  be  derived  hereafter,  it 
was  certainly  very  gratifying  to  Illinois  horticulturists  to  be 
permitted  to  show  their  products  alongside  those  of  other 
states  and  countries  at  the  great  Columbian  Exposition  of 
1893,  and  the  thanks  of  the  fruit  growers  of  the  State  are  cer- 
tainly due  to  the  Legislature  for  furnishing  the  means  for  car- 
rying on  the  exhibit. 


61 


STATISTICS 


OF 


GROWING  IN  ILJLINOIS. 


The  system  of  gathering  the  statistics  of  yield  of  the  fruit 
grown  is  very  crude  and  amounts  to  but  little  beyond  guess- 
work. The  average  farmer  who  has  an  orchard  of  a  hundred 
or  more  trees  does  not  generally  know  how  many  bushels  of 
apples  his  trees  produced,  and  it  is  seldom  that  even  the  com- 
mercial orchardist  has  complete  figures  of  his  sales.  No 
account  is  taken  of  the  tens  of  thousands  of  fruit  trees  in  the 
small  cities  and  villages,  and  we  believe  that  we  speak  within 
the  bounds  of  reason  when  we  say  that  not  one-fourth  the  pro- 
duct is  returned  by  the  assessors.  The  statistics  which  we 
supply  below  are  those  gathered  from  the  assessors'  reports, 
which  we  know  are  by  no  means  complete,  and  which  give 
probably  not  to  exceed  one-fourth  the  value  of  the  fruit  sold. 
We  do  not,  therefore,  submit  them  with  a  view  of  showing  the 
immensity  of  the  fruit  yield  in  the  State,  but  to  call  attention 
to  what  basis  we  have  for  the  statements  made  in  the  pages  of 
this  book.  The  reader  will  observe  that  there  is  nothing  said 
of  the  yield  of  raspberry,  blackbengu  currant,  gooseberry, 
plum,  cherry,  quince,  or  persimmon ;  "which  taken  together 
must  have  equaled  in  value  twice  ove^,  .hat  given  for  straw- 
berries. It  may  also  be  wise  to  note  tjj#t  taking  the  whole 
State,  the  crop  of  fruit  grown  in  1892  .vas  far  below  an  aver- 
age one;  in  fact,  apples,  peaches,  and  pears  did  not  yield  half 
an  average. 

Table  showing  the  returns  of  fruit  by  the  assessors  for 
the  years  1891  and  1892,  together  with  the  value  for  both 
years: 


62 


NORTHERN  ILLINOIS. 

1891.  Value.  1892.  Value. 

Apples,  bushels 1,232,132  $1,626,414  166,626  $221,231 

Peaches,  bushels 13,494  26,950  6,134  12,558 

Grapes,  pounds 742,378  29,640  486,710  19,145 

Wine,  gallons 43,750  42,890  27,858  27,106 

Strawberries,  value 27,106  20,405 


$1,753,000  $300,445 


CENTRAL   ILLINOIS. 

Apples,  bushels 712,639  $812,408  145,877  $167,395 

Peaches,  bushels 55,410  88,096  22,051  35,124 

Pears,  bushels 1,695  2.949  757  1,318 

Grapes,  pounds 888,061  29,395  654,156  21,699 

Wine,  gallons 42,248  30,418  21,406  15,534 

Strawberries,  value 19,491  13,699 


J,757  $254,769 


SOUTHERN   ILLINOIS. 

Apples,  bushels 1,034,708  $910,543  258,329  $225,845 

Peaches,  bushels 263,431  355,631  167,295  152,390 

Pears,  bushels 16,754  18,932  8,084  9.173 

Grapes,  pounds 288,800  8,981  177.758  5,535 

Wine,  gallons 19,750  17,779  14,465  13,947 

Strawberries,  value 138,299  132,075 


$1,450,165  $538,965 

Total  value  in  entire  state,  1891 $4,185,922 

Total  value  in  entire  state,  1892. . :    1,094,179 


ADDITIONAL  FRUIT  STATISTICS. 

The  inaccuracy  of  the  above  tables  is  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing statement  of  shipments  of  fruit  taken  from  the  books  of 
the  railroad  companies". the  records  of  the  various  shipping 
associations,  or  comp/^i  by  intelligent  men  in  the  localities 
mentioned  under  th^  Direction  of  the  secretary  of  the  State 
Horticultural  Society. 

Mr.  G.  W.  Endicott,  of  Villa  Ridge,  in  writing  of  the  in- 
correctness of  the  assessors'  statistics  above  quoted,  says: 
"I  will  quote  one  item  alone — 'grapes,  grown  in  1891  in 
Southern  Illinois,  288,800  pounds,'  or  about  nine  cars  of  30,- 
000  pounds  each,  when  in  fact  the  railroad  company's  books 
show  that  ninety  (90)  cars  were  shipped  from  Villa  Ridge 


63 

alone,  and  from  other  stations  in  the  county  of  Pulaski  some 
fifteen  (15)  cars  more.  An  aggregate  of  over  3,000,000  pounds 
from  Pulaski  county,  to  say  nothing  of  the  crop  in  other  large 
grape  districts  of  the  State."  Three  million  pounds  shipped 
from  one  county  alone,  where  the  assessors'  returns  show  but 
288,800  pounds  for  the  whole  State. 

The  following  tables  from  a  few  quite  widely  separated 
localities  within  the  State  indicate  in  a  small  degree  what  the 
value  of  the  fruit  crop  is  in  ordinary  fruit  years,  for  it  must 
be  remembered  that  this  year  of  fruit  failure  is  by  no  means  a 
fair  test  of  what  the  results  are  in  a  good  season. 

It  also  shows  that  the  statistics  as  taken  by  the  local  as- 
sessors are  very  unreliable.  The  fruit  growers  are  in  a  meas- 
ure responsible  for  this  in  not  keeping  accurate  accounts  of 
the  acreage  devoted  to  the  fruit  plantations  on  their  own 
places,  and  giving  them  to  the  assessors  when  called  upon. 
We  hope,  in  the  interest  of  fruit  growing  in  Illinois,  that  a 
proper  place  may  be  assigned  this  important  industry  by  the 
gathering  of  more  carefully  taken  statistics  on  the  part  of  the 
assessors.  The  fact  remains,  however,  that  these  returns  are 
made  up  from  statements  made  to  the  assessors  every  spring 
by  the  farmers  themselves,  and  the  latter  are  probably  more 
to  blame  than  the  assessors. 

It  is  impossible  to  get  returns  from  every  county  without 
incurring  great  expense,  but  the  following  tables  will  indicate, 
to  some  extent,  what  has  in  reality  been  done  in  the  line  of  de- 
veloping the  horticultural  interests  of  the  State.  It  should  be 
borne  in  mind  that  many  other  counties  of  the  State  have 
equally  large  fruit  interests,  but  these  are  given  only  for  the 
reason  that  persons  sufficiently  interested  could  be  found  to 
compile  the  reports: 


NORTHERN  ILLINOIS. 

BUREAU    COUNTY. 
(Reported  by  Arthur  Bryant,  Princeton.) 

This  county  has  about  3,000  acres  of  apple  orchards ;  Prince- 
ton township  has  about  25  acres  in    small  fruits  and  300  acres 


64 

in  apples.      The  following  statement  of  growers  is  taken  from 
those  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Princeton: 

J.  H.  Bryant — 15  acres  in  apples. 

Elmer  Waddel — 15  acres  in  apples. 

L.  R.  Bryant — 10  acres  in  apples. 

Arthur  Bryant — 20  acres  in  apples. 

E.  P.  Lovejoy — 10  acres  in  apples. 

John  Kitterman — 10  acres  in  apples. 

G-eo.  Childs — 6  acres  in  apples. 

W.  N.  Mosely — 5  acres  in  apples. 

Mr.  Chelman — 5  acres  in  apples. 

O.  Beebe,  Tiskilwa — 20  acres  in  apples. 
Small  fruits — 

N.  P.  Colberg — 5  acres. 

C.  G.  Swanson — 5  acres. 

J.  G.  Bubach — 5  acres. 

Other  growers — 5  acres. 

KANKAKEE    COUNTY. 
(Reported  by  O.  W.  Barnard,  Manteno. ) 

This  county  has  a  sandy  ridge  extending  across  it  that  is 
well  adapted  to  fruit  growing.  There  are  many  small  fruit  and 
vegetable  growers  of  from  one  to  ten  acres  who  grow  for  the 
Chicago  market.  The  means  for  collecting  careful  statistics  of 
the  above  were  not  at  hand,  but  to  show  that  fruits  are  grown 
for  market  in  Northern  Illinois,  the  following  is  given  as  a 
sample,  and  it  is  only  fair  to  say  that  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
larger  towns  in  Northern  Illinois  many  acres  are  devoted  to 
small  fruits  for  the  local  markets. 

In  Kankakee  county  the  largest  growers  are: 

B.  J.  Wakeman — Grapes,  1  acre,   produced  in  1893,  3,500 
pounds;  raspberries,  5  acres;    blackberries,  7  acres;    strawber- 
ries, 4  acres.      Total,  17  acres.      Value  of  product  sold,  $1,663. 

P.  A.  Bonvallet — Grapes,  20  acres,  45,000  pounds;  value, 
$1,350. 

A.  L.  Small — Pie-plant,  30  acres,  342,600  pounds;  value, 
$5,173. 

C.  W.  Pottinger — Strawberries,  4  acres. 


65 
CENTRAL  ILLINOIS. 

CHAMPAIGN    COUNTY. 

Small  fruits  are  grown  for  the  local  and  Chicago  markets 
in  the  vicinity  of  Champaign  and  Urbana,  on  plantations  of 
from  two  to  ten  acres.  Number  of  acres  in  apple  orchards,  as 
returned  by  the  assessors,  over  5,000;  the  largest  fruit  farms 
in  the  county  are  owned  by 

Geo.  Myers,  apples,  25  acres. 

M.  Dunlap  &  Son,  apples,  30  acres. 

Henry  M.  Dunlap — Apples,  225  acres;  pears,  2  acres; 
cherry,  4  acres;  small  fruits  and  grapes,  4  acres. 

H.  C.  Smith — Apples,  15;  pears,  10  acres. 

PIKE    COUNTY. 

(Reported  by  C.  G.  Winn,  Griggsville.) 

The  following  is  a  partial  list  of  fruits  grown  in  this 
county,  and  acreage  devoted  thereto: 

F.  Cadwell  &  Sons — Apples,  417  acres. 

J.  R.  Williams— Apples,  80. 

J.  A.  Farrand — Apples,  45. 

W.  Horey — Apples,  40. 

Robt.  Walker— Apples,  40. 

John  Wheeler — Apples,  40. 

Richard  Perry — Apples,  100. 

William  Perry — Apples,  50. 

Geo.  Ham — Apples,  30. 

W.  W.  Smith — Apples,  30. 

Mrs.  R.  A.  Anderson — Apples,   30. 

J.  &  C.  G.  Winn— Apples,  25. 

R.  Allen — Apples,  20. 

Mr.  Borthy — Apples,  20. 

Geo.  Westlake — Apples,  20. 

Mrs.  Wintield — Apples,  20. 

John  Fenton — Apples,  20. 

Jeff.  Smith — Apples,  15. 

Mrs.  Hitch — Apples,  15. 

Wm.  Check— Apples,  10. 

E.  S.  Parker — Apples,  15. 


66 

Wood  Webster — Apples,  15. 
Dr.  Stoner — Apples,  12. 
H.  Sheim — Apples,  5. 
Other  orchards,  estimated,  3,000. 
Total,  4,024  acres,  or  a  total  of  about  20,000  trees. 
H.  Sheim — Five  acres  small  fruits. 

Dr.  Skinner — One  acre  quinces,  3  acres  pears,  3  acres 
peaches,  5  acres  small  fruits. 

HANCOCK    COUNTY. 

(Reported  by  James  T.  Johnson,  Warsaw.) 

Gathered  from  over  one  hundred  fruit  growers  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  towns  of  Nauvoo  and  Warsaw,  this  county. 
Total  number  of  acres  of  fruit  (estimated),  10,000. 
Apples,  value  of  crop  (in  fruit  years),  $75.000. 

THE    FOLLOWING   FIGURES   ARE    OF    THE    CROP   OF    1893: 

Pears,  2,300  bushels;   value  $3,000. 

Peaches,  7,000  bushels;  value,  $7,000. 

Grapes,  4,000,000  pounds;  value,  $100,000.  Nine  carloads 
of  grapes  were  shipped  from  Nauvoo  in  one  day. 

Strawberries,  6,000  cases  of  twenty-four  quarts  each 
(144,000  quarts). 

Raspberries,  4,000  cases  of  twenty-four  quarts  (90,000 
quarts). 

Blackberries,  4,500  cases  of  twenty-four  quarts  (98,000 
quarts). 

Value  of  small  fruits  noted  above,  $20,000. 

Tomatoes,  75,000  bushels;  value,  $30,000. 

Cucumbers,  75,000  bushels;  value,  $30,000. 

Melons,  300  acres;  value  of  crop,  $15,000. 

Beans,  2,000  bushels;  value,  $1,000. 

Squashes,  value,  $1,000. 

Irish  potatoes,  10,000  bushels;  value,  $8,000. 

Sweet  potatoes,  3,000  bushels;    value,  $2,750. 

Onions,  3,500  bushels;  value,  $2,100. 

Pie-plant,  3,000  boxes;  value,  3,000. 

Cider,  150,000  gallons;  value,  $15,000. 

Wine,  80,000  gallons;  value,  $32,000. 


67 

Total  value  of  the  products  noted  above,  grown  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  two  towns  mentioned,  amounts  to  $444,850.00. 

REMARKS. — Cherries,  plums,  quinces,  sweet  corn,  aspara- 
gus, spinach,  and  all  the  other  modern  products  are  grown  in 
liberal  quantities  for  the  home  market  and  for  canning,  pre- 
serving, and  pickling  purposes.  The  bulk  of  the  above  men- 
tioned products  which  are  suitable  for  such  purposes  find  a 
ready  market  at  the  canning  and  pickling  establishments,  of 
which  there  are  seven  in  the  territory  from  which  these  sta- 
tistics are  compiled. 


SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS. 

ALTON,    MADISON    COUNTY. 

Horticultural  products  grown  in  the  vicinity  of  Alton, 
Madison  county,  as  reported  by  E.  A.  Riehl,  for  the  year  1893. 

Apples,  acres  in  orchards,  100;  bushels  harvested,  3,250; 
value,  $2,061. 

Pears,  acres  in  orchards,  81;  bushels  harvested,  3,700; 
value,  $4,010. 

Peaches,  acres  in  orchards,  157;  bushels  harvested,  11,200; 
value,  $11,000. 

Grapes,  acres  in  vineyards,  35;  pounds  harvested,  300,000; 
value,  $5,295. 

Small  fruits,  acres,  193;  total  value  of  crop,  $12,290. 

Asparagus,  acres  planted,  148;  total  value  of  crop, 
$13,805. 

Among  the  larger  growers  near  Alton  may  be  mentioned 
the  following  : 

Fred  Hayden — Pears,  4  acres;  peaches,  3  acres;  grapes, 
11  acres;  small  fruit,  1£  acres;  asparagus,  1  acre.  Total,  20£ 
acres. 

B.  F.  Draper — Apples,  7  acres;  pears,  14  acres;  asparagus, 
34  acres.  Total,  55  acres. 

Mr.  Johnson — Asparagus,  20  acres. 

D.  W.  Collet — Pears,  4  acres;  peaches,  3  acres;  small 
fruits,  5  acres;  asparagus,  5  acres.  Total,  17  acres. 


68 

E.  Hollister — Pears,  5  acres;  peaches,  8  acres.  Total,  13 
acres. 

Mrs.  Mullen — Peaches,  3f  acres. 

Ed.  Rogers — Apples,  25  acres;  pears,  5  acres;  peaches,  2 
acres;  asparagus,  3  acres.  Total,  35  acres. 

Wm.  Jackson — Pears,  2  acres;  peaches,  2  acres;  grapes> 
1  acre;  small  fruit,  12  acres.  Total,  17  acres. 

E.  A.  Riehl — Apples,  10  acres;  pears,  10  acres;  peaches, 
6  acres;  grapes,  4  acres;  small  fruit,  6  acres;  asparagus,  5 
acres.  Total,  41  acres. 

Mrs.  I.  P.  Roberts — Pears,  3  acres;  peaches,  £  acre; 
grapes,  6  acres;  small  fruit,  3  acres;  asparagus,  2£  acres. 
Total,  14f  acres. 


COBDEN,    UNION    COUNTV. 

Fruit  shipped  from  this  station  for  year  ending  November 
1,  1893. 

(Reported  by  T.  E.  Goodrich.) 

Apples,  853  barrels,  or  six  car  loads. 

Peaches,  12,000  half  bushel  cases;  500  third  bushel  boxes; 
62,000  one-fifth  bushel  baskets. 

Pears,  5,295  bushels. 

Strawberries,  12,133  cases  of  twenty-four  quarts  each. 

Blackberries,  16,960  cases  of  twenty-four  quarts  each. 

Raspberries,  9,170  cases  of  twenty-four  quarts  each. 

Tomatoes,  153,431  half  bushel  cases;  42,500  one-third 
bushel  cases;  2,000  one-fifth  bushel  baskets. 

Sweet  Potatoes,  22,846  barrels,  and  2,375  bushel  boxes 
and  kegs. 

Rhubarb  (pie-plant),  44,597  bushel  boxes. 

Spinach,  1,280  bushel  boxes.      *' 

Asparagus,  7,375  one-third  bushel  boxes. 

Onions,  1,400  bushels. 

Melons  (Cantaloupes),  4,000  bushels;  2,500  half  bushel 
baskets. 

Squash  and  Cucumbers,  2,650  bushels. 


c 
t/5 


71 

ANNA,    UNION    COUNTY. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  fruits  and  vegetables  shipped  by 
the  Anna  Fruit  Growers'  Association  during  the  season  of 
1893. 

(Reported  by  J.  F.  Williford,  Secretary.) 

Apples,  5,000  barrels. 

Strawberries,  10,000  cases  of  twenty-four  quarts  each. 

Tomatoes,  120,000  cases. 

Cucumbers,  20,000  baskets. 

Melons  (Cantaloupes),  60,000  baskets. 

Pie-plant,  8,000  bushel  boxes. 

Beans,  3,000  bushels. 

Squashes,  500  baskets. 

Sweet  Potatoes,  500  barrels. 

No.  of  cars  of  fruits  and  vegetables  sent  out  by  the  Anna 
Fruit  Growers'  Association  in  1893,  285;  sent  by  other  parties, 
15  cars.  Total,  300  cars. 

HIGHLAND    COUNTY. 
(Reported  by  R.  T.  Fry,  Olney.) 

With  the  exception  of  two  or  three  townships,  which  are 
carefully  estimated,  these  records  are  from  an  actual  canvass 
of  the  county  by  townships: 

Townshios         Apple,  Pear,  Peach,  Grapes,  Small  Fruits,  Total, 

Acres.  Acres.  Acres.  Acres.           Acres.  Acres. 

Madison 1,900  200         100  10  107  2,317 

Decker 1,400  50         150  12  1,612 

Noble ...3,000  300  500  25  3,825 

Denver 1.700  60         190  26  1.976 

Preston 1,200  155  200  50                   13  1,618 

German 1,000  20  150  1,170 

Claremont 2,000  75  300  2,375 

Bonpas 1,500  100  200  100                  171  2,071 

Olney 4,000  500  700  100                 575  5,875 


Totals 17,700     1,460     2,490  260  929  22,839 

CLAY    COUNTY. 
(Reported  by  R.  Smith.) 

The  fruit  interests  of  this  county  run  almost  entirely  to 
apple  orchards,  of  which  there  are  in  the  county,  according  to 
careful  estimates,  a  total  of  30,000  acres.  Manv  of  these 


72 

orchards  are  not  yet  in  bearing,  being  from  one  to  five  years 
old  from  the  time  of  transplanting. 

The  value  of  the  apple  crop  in  this  county  for  1891  was 
estimated  at  $200,000. 

Some  of  the  larger  orchards  are  as  follows: 

McNair  Bros. ,  700  acres. 

L.  B.  Parsons,  150  acres. 

Thos.  Lowry,  150  acres. 

Meyer  Bros.,  150  acres. 

JASPER    COUNTY. 

(Reported  by  ,1.  W.  Honey,  Newton.) 

Estimated  plantations  of  commercial  apple  orchards  is 
3,083  acres.  No  account  is  made  of  the  numerous  orchards 
for  family  use.  Besides  the  apple  orchards  there  are  20  acres 
of  pears,  20  acres  of  peaches,  8  acres  of  quinces,  and  5  acres 
of  raspberries  in  the  county. 

The  names  of  the  owners  of,  and  areas  in  acres  of  the 
larger  orchards  are  as  follows: 

J.  W.  Honey — Apple,  100;  pear,  15;  Quinces,  6. 

O.  S.  Scott— Apple,  100. 

G.  W.  Fithian — Apple,  90;  peaches,  10. 

W.  R.  Carrico — Apple,  50. 

L.  Matthews — Apple,  50. 

W.  Beatty— Apple,  60. 

T.  R.  Barker— Apple,  60. 

Adam  Pranks — Apple,  50. 

P.  Jackson — Apple,  40;  quinces,  2. 

Wm.  Mason — Apple,  40. 

J.  J.  Keavin — Apple,  40. 

D.  Adams — Apple,  40. 

G.  A.  Lemey — Apple,  40. 

N.  Carter — Apple,  40. 

Mr.  Gedded — Apple,  40. 

H.  Kendall— Apple,  40. 

G.  W.  Guess— Apple.  40. 

Merrick  Bros. — Apple,  80. 

Mr.  Freeman — Apple,  40. 

J.  J.  Trexlar— Apple,  40. 


73 


MARION    COUNTY. 

(Reported  by  J.  G.  Vaughan,  Odin.) 

Apples  Pears.         Peaches.       Cherries. 

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lownsDips.  m  QJ  <xi  a>  ^  m  aj03™*5 


Centralia  ........  120,000  1,815  8,600  47  95,000  633     6,000     40     678 

Sandoval  ........   65,600  1,313  8,046  54  12,834  86                             78 

Salem  ...........  108,950  2,119  1,850  12  8,270  54 

Stevenson  .......   81,710  1,635  1,775  11  9,450  63 

Tonti  ...........   81,885  1,638  5,862  40  6,630  44 

Alma  ____  ........   76,000  1,520  6,200  41  60,000  400     4,000     27       62 

Kinmundy  ......   42,200  845  2,000  13  6,000  40     5,500     37       94 

Carrigan  ........   37,895  758  1,540  10  11,960  80 

Haines  ..........   43,250  841  1,100  8  11,000  74                              10 


Total 657,49012,54436,973236221,1441,47415,500    104     922 

The  larger  apple  orchards  are  as  follows: 

Marshall  Bros.,  240  acres. 

Schwartz  Bros.,  200  acres. 

James  Telford,  420  acres. 

Hugh  &  Steele,  250  acres. 

Storment  Bros.,  210  acres. 


CENTRALIA,   MARION    COUNTY. 

(Reported  by  N.  W.  Spencer,  of  the  Fruit  Shippers'  Association.) 

Apples — In  1889,  30,000  barrels,  two  hundred  carloads, 
were  shipped  from  this  station. 

SHIPMENTS    MADE    IN    1893. 

Apples,  fifteen  cars,  or  2,250  bushels. 

Raspberries,  five  cars,  or  4,000  cases  of  twenty-four  pints 
each. 

Strawberries,  150  cars,  or  80,000  cases  of  twenty- four 
quarts  each. 

Blackberries,  five  cars,  or  2,000  cases  of  twenty-four 
quarts  each. 

Gooseberries,  five  cars,  or  2,000  cases  of  twenty-four 
quarts  each. 

Peaches,  tomatoes,  and  vegetables,  ten  cars  of  8,000 
packages. 

Total  number  of  cars  of  fruit  shipped,  190. 


74 


REMARKS. 


r~\ROBABLY  no  portion  of  the  State  has  a  larger  acreage 
/T|  in  orchards  than  that  section  of  which  Marion,  Clay, 
\— *  Richland,  Jasper,  Effingham,  Wayne,  and  Cumberland 
counties  form  a  part.  The  setting  of  orchards  in  this  locality 
has  proceeded  with  astonishing  rapidity  during  the  past  five 
years.  These  young  orchards  will  begin  to  come  into  bearing 
this  season,  and  in  the  course  of  five  years  more  this  section  of 
the  State  will  have  made  a  name  for  itself  in  the  apple  markets 
of  the  world. 

Take  the  partial  statistics  for  the  counties  of  Richland, 
Clay,  Jasper,  and  Marion,  as  here  given,  with  a  total  of  about 
70,000  acres;  with  50  trees  to  the  acre  this  would  amount  to 
3,500,000  trees.  At  an  age  of  ten  years  these  trees  are  capable 
of  bearing  on  an  average  of  ten  bushels  of  apples  to  the  tree, 
making  a  total  for  these  four  counties,  of  35,000,000  bushels, 
or  11,700,000  barrels;  or,  to  reduce  to  carloads,  we  would 
have  60,000  cars.  Think  of  this  for  a  moment,  2,000  train 
loads  of  30  cars  each,  and  we  have  a  faint  idea  of  what  the 
future  of  Illinois  orchards,  taken  for  the  whole  State,  will  be. 
These  counties  by  no  means  monopolize  the  apple  lands  of  the 
State,  for  many  other  counties  follow  them  closely  in  the  acre- 
age devoted  to  apple  growing. 

The  orchards  are  planted  mainly  to  a  limited  number  of 
varieties  that  are  proven  to  be  well  adapted  to  the  several 
localities,  and  being  no  longer  an  experiment  we  can  look  for- 
ward confidently  to  the  future  of  these  orchards  with  a  feeling 
that  they  will  not  disappoint  their  owners  so  far  as  production 
of  fruit  is  concerned. 

The  figures  to  which  attention  has  been  called  are  startling 
in  the  extreme,  and  if  the  owners  are  not  wide  awake  they  are 
liable  to  find  themselves  in  the  possession  of  a  large  crop  with 
no  provision  made  for  a  market  for  the  product. 


75 

The  Illinois  fruit  exhibit  did  much  toward  calling  attention 
to  the  fact  that  this  is  a  great  fruit  State,  and  buyers  from 
other  nations  as  well  as  from  other  states  of  this  nation,  were 
undoubtedly  impressed  with  the  truth  of  the  statement  that 
Illinois  is  an  immense  apple  district,  growing  choice  fruit  for 
all  the  great  markets  of  the  world;  and,  having  their  attention 
thus  called  to  it,  buyers  will  seek  this  State  to  supply  their 
needs. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  study  the  question  of  caring  for  the 
surplus  product  of  the  orchard  by  evaporation,  jellies,  cider, 
cider  vinegar,  butters,  etc.,  by  the  establishment  of  mills  for 
the  purposes  named  in  every  county  where  apples  are  grown 
in  large  quantities. 

Pears  are  being  planted  extensively  in  the  counties  of 
Madison,  Pulaski,  Union,  Jefferson,  Marion,  and  other  coun- 
ties of  Southern  Illinois. 

Kankakee,  Hancock,  Madison,  and  Pulaski  counties  are 
noted  for  their  fine  grapes,  from  which  wine  is  extensively 
manufactured.  They  are  grown  however  almost  equally  as 
well  in  every  county  of  the  state. 

Peaches  are  grown  for  market  in  the  whole  southern  half 
of  the  State,  but  probably  Union,  Pulaski,  Gallatin,  Jackson, 
and  Madison  counties  take  the  lead  in  number  of  orchards  and 
amount  of  product. 


.V: 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


REPORT  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  HORTICULTURAL  BOA 


